Today
we celebrate a popular 4th century bishop and martyr. Januarius was bishop of
Benevento (or Naples), Italy during the persecution of Diocletian. He was
arrested while visiting imprisoned deacons, and then martyred with them. It is
said that he was fed to the lions, but when they would not touch him he was
beheaded, this, in 304. His blood was preserved and dried. And since at least
1389, on his feast day, in Naples, and on the Saturday before the first Sunday
in May, the blood liquefies. Many miracles are attributed to veneration of this
wondrous spectacle.
The
readings for today fit the feast well: the first reading from the
letter to the Hebrews reminds us that the
persecution that follows enlightenment is only normal: a great contest of suffering always follows true enlightenment of faith.
But we are not to throw away our
confidence [lose hope], but we need to endure, do the will of God and receive
the eternal life of joy that he has promised.
In the gospel passage Jesus
gives those beautiful words of encouragement: unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just
a grain of wheat: it must fall, it must die, it must begin then to live the
fullness of the life it was meant to live: it is on the day of our baptisms
that the grain of wheat falls to the
earth and dies for us, and we are enlightened
by the grace of the Holy Spirit [today, in fact, is my anniversary of
baptism 67 years ago]; from then on we can give glory to the Father by doing his will perfectly and completely, and
he will honor us and reward us with everlasting life! As St. Januarius lived a
full and authentic Christian life, so can we this day!
Those
who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
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