January 21 2022 - Virgin Martyr St. Agnes - The weak to shame the strong

 “God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, the weak to shame the strong, those who are nothing to reduce those who are something.” On this feast of one of the great child martyrs of our faith, St. Agnes, we have this profound, paradoxical reading from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

By human standards, the Church of Corinth was not comprised of the worldly wise, powerful, wealthy, and influential members of society. While the Gospel appealed to some members of the nobility and aristocracy, the early church was poor and powerless, at least according to the measure of the world. 

This reminds us of how at Christmas, God took flesh and became a member of a poor unknown family from of the poor virtually unknown town of Nazareth. The Lord was born not in a palace but a stable. In the temple, the Christ child confounded the learned scribes and teachers. While certainly calling all men to believe in him, the Lord chose as his apostles not the mighty in society, but poor fisherman. And on the cross, he conquered not with a powerful army, but through the death of a slave, with arms outstretched on the cross. 

So too, we see this wonderful paradox in saints like dear St. Agnes honored today: a thirteen year old girl, considered foolish, poor, and powerless in the eyes of the world, who possesses more wisdom, riches, and power in the eyes of God than most men would ever possess. She possessed the pearl of great price, for she possessed the courage to die for Christ. 

We, like Agnes, are not to rely on worldly riches or political power to work for the mission of the Gospel. God has raised up the lowly in each one of us. We poor sinners are given the great dignity of baptism and the great mission of spreading the Gospel. We shouldn’t be waiting around for someone more wealthy or worldly powerful to lead us in the world of the Gospel. St. Agnes and the host of martyrs, that we the lowly are God’s chosen instruments. Perhaps, these weak ones shame us, a little too, for not relying on God's grace as we should. They certainly teach and remind us of the need, more than anything else to possess holiness, virtue, detachment from worldly goods in order to embrace Christ with conviction, to witness to him with courage to the elite, strong, and powerful of the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her, care for her, and give her strength and courage in her mission.

For the peoples of the world, that the Lord may preserve harmony among us.

That the March for Life in Washington D.C. today will help to transform our culture and inspire many to adhere to the Gospel of Life.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may grant them relief and move Christians to come to the aid of the suffering.

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.