“God Belongs to All” by Beth DeCristofaro

Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs

Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles, too? Yes, also

North American Martyrs

to Gentiles, for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith. (Romans 3:29-30)

Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter." (Luke 11:52)

Piety

May we never boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the word of the Cross is the power of God to us who have been saved.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass of the Day)

Study

In these ending days of the Liturgical Year, the messages of the Gospel begin to seem harsh.  Jesus does not mince words to the leaders: “Woe to you” who not only reject him, God’s very Word, but to those who obstruct others relationship-building with God.  Paul’s letter to the Romans, in the meantime, speaks of a God who is moving to put right what is wrong in the world.  God offers grace and salvation to all.  In Jesus, who accepts the Cross, God ushers in the ripening Kingdom of God.  Jesus’ severe words to the leaders indict them not only for their own hardened hearts but also for the damage they inflict upon the community with whom God’s covenant still holds.

The Canadian Martyrs remembered today were caught in the cross-fire between warring peoples.  However, they were martyred because they did not shy away from proclaiming their Christianity and ultimately the power of the Cross.     

Action

Do we live our days in hospitality, modeling with the keys of our faith what Christ asks of us as his followers?  Or are we at times closed doors, insisting on blindly performed tasks, adherence to our own chosen issue or perfection of minutia rather than being blown by the will of the Spirit into the welcoming arms of Jesus the Lord.  All lives have crosses as part of the human condition, shall we impose crosses onto others?

Read the third chapter of Romans again.  In what ways do you experience and share the righteousness of God?

Illustration credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Martyrs