Posted by The WORD in Other Words by Fr Carlos Lariosa SVD (Philippines) for Saturday 14th Week in Ordinary Time
In a catechism class for grade 5 pupils, I asked those who would like to become saints to raise their hands. All raised their hands except one. So I asked this particular child why he did not want to become a saint, and he answered: “because all the saints are dead!” To the world, they are dead, but not to those who believe in God.
The famous Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero Galdámez of El Salvador, a staunch critic against injustice in his country and defender of the poor, was killed while celebrating the Holy Mass on March 24, 1980. He was made saint by Pope Francis last October 14, 2018. Indeed to the world he died but now, one with St. Pope Paul VI, he lives forever as a great witness of the 20th century. March 24, the day he was assassinated, was declared by the United Nations as the International Day for the Right of the Truth Concerning Gross Human Right Violations and for the dignity of the Victims.
Today’s Word of God is well loaded with the promise of life for those who live in God. Twice Jesus tells us not to be afraid of those who kill the body but not the soul. By his own witness, Jesus showed us how much God loves and cares for us that even the hairs of our heads are accounted for! We must be ready to give our life to acknowledge Him before others, so that he would also acknowledge us before the Heavenly Father.
Knowing the strength of God’s love for us, I hope that we realize how we are truly worth more than many sparrows.
Source – Bible Diary 2020
