Monday, Second Week of Ordinary Time, Year C

Hebrews 5:1-10 / Mark 2:18-22

I wonder if I ever told you about Saint Agnes. Well, since today is the day Christians set aside to celebrate her life and legacy, it may be well to recall her story.

Agnes was a Roman girl who was born into a Christian family in those days when it was not very fashionable and favourable to be a Christians. It was in the early days of our faith, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. Then the gospel message of Christ was treated as a social malaise and opposed with force and swords. We were told Agnes was a ravishingly beautiful fille, the type that every young man in the area wanted to date. Unluckily for them, the girl had already made a promise to God never to stain her purity, such was the extent of her love for God. But there was one guy who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Procop was the Governor’s son. He saw in Agnes his dream woman and tried by every persuasive means to win her over. He bought her rich gifts and made her richer promises. None of these moved the angelic damsel; she would always reply respectfully: “I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars and He has said He will never leave me.” Her steadfastness was getting Procop frustrated. His frustration soon turned to anger and his anger became hatred. He accused Agnes of being a Christian and pursued her prosecution. She was put to jail and even there her face still shone with joy. The day of her execution finally came, and as she was dragged to the gallows, even the pagans cried to see such a young beautiful girl going to death. As for Agnes herself, she was as happy as a bride on her wedding day, and in a strangely calm voice, she said to her executioners, “You may stain your swords with my blood but my body which I have consecrated to God, I will not profane.” Not long after, she was stabbed at the neck and rested in the Lord.

But that was then. Now we live in a modern and liberated era. Virginity and purity are out-dated virtues. When one says “my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”, we look at him or her as though an alien from Mars. Why is fornication a sin after all, we ask, and what on earth is wrong with porn or adultery?

And what was wrong with the fruit that Adam and Eve ate? It was just a fruit... See, dear friends, it’s about trusting God and obeying Him. He loves us and whatever He asks us to do or not do cannot but be for our own good. But how often we think we know better what is good for us only to realise that we’ve only messed up ourselves! When we look back at the testimony of the saints of old, we see how poor our commitment is. May the Holy Spirit rekindle in us the fire of the love of God.

Have a nice day and God loves you.