Memorial of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr (1/21/23)
1/21/23
Saint
St. Agnes of Rome is a Catholic saint and martyr. She is one of seven women, who, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. Agnes was born in Rome, into a wealthy pagan family. She was only 12 or 13 years old when she was martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. According to tradition, Agnes was a beautiful young girl who had many suitors, but she refused to marry because she had consecrated her virginity to God. This angered her suitors and they accused her of being a Christian. She was subsequently arrested and subjected to various forms of torture, but she remained steadfast in her faith. She was ultimately put to death by being dragged through the streets until she died. Her tomb became a popular site of pilgrimage, and she is the patron saint of virgins, rape victims, and engaged couples.
Scripture
Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14 is a passage from the New Testament book of Hebrews, which describes the structure and function of the ancient Jewish tabernacle.
In verse 2-3, it says: "For a tabernacle was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the consecrated bread; this is called the holy place. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant."
This passage describes the layout of the tabernacle, which was a portable temple used by the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness. It consisted of two rooms: the outer room, called the holy place, and the inner room, called the Holy of Holies. The holy place contained various items used in the worship of God, such as the lampstand and the table of the showbread. The Holy of Holies was the most sacred space in the tabernacle, and it contained the ark of the covenant, which held the tablets of the Ten Commandments.
In verse 11-14, it says: "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
This passage makes the comparison between the ancient Jewish tabernacle and the work of Jesus Christ as High Priest. The author of Hebrews is emphasizing that Jesus, by his death and resurrection, has made a new and superior sacrifice that provides eternal redemption. He entered into the Most Holy Place by his own blood, not the blood of goats and bulls, and thus obtained eternal redemption for us. The author is emphasizing that the sacrifice of Jesus is superior to the sacrifices offered under the old covenant, and it has made it possible for people to have their conscience cleansed from dead works and serve the living God.
Mark 3:20-21 is a passage from the New Testament book of Mark. This passage describes an incident in which Jesus' family and the religious leaders of his time accuse him of being out of his mind and possessed by an unclean spirit.
In verse 20-21, it says:
"Then He went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when His own people heard of this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”"
These verses are describing a situation in which Jesus has returned to his home town, and a crowd has gathered around him to hear him teach and perform miracles. However, his own family members, who were likely present in the crowd, have heard the reports of his teachings and miracles and have come to the conclusion that he is out of his mind and possibly possessed by an unclean spirit. They are concerned for his well-being and want to intervene and stop him from continuing to teach and perform miracles.
This passage is demonstrating the resistance and disbelief of Jesus' own family, which was common among many of his contemporaries. It also shows that Jesus' authority and teachings were not accepted by everyone and he faced opposition and misunderstanding even among his own people.
Haiku
Jesus' redemption, by blood,
Tabernacle's veil.
Limerick
A virgin, her heart full of pureness
She faced death with a grin
For her faith would not thin
And now she's a patron for sureness
The tabernacle of old
Had a veil, as the story's been told
But now Jesus has come
And salvation has begun
No more sacrifices, we're behold
Reflection
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we hear two powerful and interconnected messages in our readings from Hebrews and Mark.
In Hebrews, we are reminded of the significance of the ancient Jewish tabernacle and the sacrifices offered within it. But more importantly, we are told that Jesus, through his death and resurrection, has made a new and superior sacrifice, one that provides eternal redemption for all of us. He entered into the Most Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and bulls, but with his own blood, obtaining eternal redemption for us.
In Mark, we see a powerful example of resistance and disbelief to Jesus and his teachings, even among his own people. His family members were concerned that he was out of his mind and possibly possessed by an unclean spirit. They could not understand or accept the authority and teachings of Jesus.
But there is another figure in today's readings who also faced resistance and disbelief, and that is St. Agnes. She too was misunderstood and persecuted for her strong faith and devotion to God, but she remained steadfast in her belief, even unto death. She is a powerful example for us of the importance of remaining true to our faith, even in the face of opposition and misunderstanding.
Like St. Agnes, Jesus and the Jewish tabernacle, all three examples teach us the importance of having a pure heart, to be steadfast in our faith and to remain true to our devotion to God, even in the face of opposition and misunderstanding. Let us all strive to follow their examples and to remain true to our faith, so that we too may one day receive eternal redemption. May God bless us all.