Lord, come to my aid. (Psalm 39).
Today, we glimpse the fire and passionate love that burned in the heart of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. This Gospel is a wake-up call for complacent cradle Catholics whose fire has burnt very low to the point of just smouldering.
On the other hand, it inspires new converts from other faiths who have just discovered that Jesus is the pearl of great price. They are prepared for the loss of everything, as Paul says, because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. (Phil 3:8).
These new converts often share Christ’s baptism of fire, the sword of family division, and persecution. They are indeed a testimony that the age of martyrdom has not passed.
But for us comfortable Christians, the Gospel reminds us that the age of saints never passes.
