For the feast of the virgin martyr, St. Agatha we read
from st. paul’s letter to the Corinthians in which St. Paul explains that God’s
ways often defy human logic and expectation. God choses the foolish, weak,
lowly, and despised of the world, to shame the worldly wise, strong, and
powerful.
The virgin martyrs like Agatha, Agnes, Anastasia, Cecilia,
Barbara, Ursula, Philomena, Kateri Tekakwitha, Maria Goretti, were not rich and
power women in the eyes of the world. They were considered foolish, weak,
lowly, and even despised. But God chose them, to witness and teach the world
what is truly important.
Saint Agatha was a beautiful Sicilian woman who had consecrated
herself to Christ—to be His bride—to spend her life in his prayerful service
and consecrated virginity.
When she refused the romantic advances of a pagan man, he
turned her into the authorities. Since she would not offer the pagan sacrifice,
she was imprisoned, tortured, and eventually killed.
This woman, who witnessed to her Lord with her life, is
now remembered and honored 1800 years after her death. Children and churches
have been named after her. Statues of her have been venerated by countless souls.
In St. Agatha, we see the profound truth that God
delights in using the small, meek, and unassuming to accomplish great things.
Her witness stands as a luminous reminder that our age, or social standing do not determine our
ability to serve Christ. What is required is faithfulness, courage, and a
willingness to embrace God’s call, no matter the cost.
Like Agatha, who gave her entire being to the service of
the Lord, we too are called to see beyond worldly measures of success or worth.
When we entrust ourselves wholeheartedly to the Savior, in any place we find
ourselves—at home, at work, in our parish, or within our families—God can use
us to spread His love, protect the vulnerable, and witness to the transforming
power of grace.
Today, inspired by St. Agatha’s radiant example, let us
pray for the courage to fully entrust ourselves to the Lord—to serve him any
way we can, anyway that he calls us to serve Him. Wherever you find yourself,
prayerfully entrust yourself to God’s will, put yourself at His disposal even
if that means suffering to bring about a greater good, for the glory of God and
the salvation of souls.
Let us bring our prayers before God our Father, who
delights in raising up the lowly and humble for His purposes, as we honor the
witness of Saint Agatha:
For the Church: That all Christians may remain faithful
to Christ and courageous in witnessing to the Gospel in every circumstance.
For the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized: That
God, who chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, may empower and
protect them, granting them justice and hope through His grace.
For consecrated women and men: that they may bear witness
to God’s love through their vows, inspire others to deeper faith, and be
faithful signs of Christ’s presence in the world.
That St. Agatha, patron saint of breast cancer patients,
may bring healing and strength to all those who suffer disease or illness.
For our departed brothers and sisters: That they may
enjoy the fullness of eternal life in the company of all the saints.
Heavenly Father, You reveal Your power by choosing the
weak and lowly. Hear our prayers. And through the intercession of St. Agatha, strengthen
us to persevere in faith, and make our lives a reflection of Your love. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
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