Word to the Wise
Saturday, September 28, 2013 - Saturday in the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
[Zech 2:5-9, 14-15a and Luke 9:43b-45]While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, "Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men." But they did not understand this saying; it's meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. [Luke]
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2013 DOMINICAN MARTYRS OF JAPAN
When things are going the right way or in an extraordinarily amazing way, it's hard to hear words that predict a disastrous "end." The disciples have experienced Jesus' many miracles and deeds including the "transfiguration." How could this all end with a cruel death at the hands of other people? No, it's better not to ask! Indeed, the evangelist, Luke, in writing this gospel many years later, is showing that the disciples were in a state of "denial" at the time. Many of them would eventually suffer a fate similar to Jesus, but that too would not be on their minds.
The Dominican martyrs in Japan in the 17th century realized that in going to Japan they were risking everything. Yet they persevered to the very end. There could be no denial on their parts. I suspect most of us would find ourselves somewhere between the first disciples and these disciples - probably closer to the first disciples. It can be very uncomfortable to ask just how much we are willing to give for the sake of our faith. The first disciples had a hard time understanding just how big the risk was. We are no different in many ways. The Dominican martyrs of Japan serve as a reminder of what is really at stake! AMEN