Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the fourth week in ordinary time, February 5, 2025, Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Hebrews 12: 4-7.11-15; Rs psalm 103: 1-2.13-14.17-18a; Mark 6: 1-6 PERSPECTIVE   The theme for our meditation today is: Perspective. Agatha was a virgin who refused to be molested inhumanely, and especially as a woman. She was then tortured and sentenced to death under the power of the Roman emperor Desius, who was a pagan. Saint Agatha inspires us about having a perspective in life. She chose to be a virgin for God, and she persisted in maintaining it even until she was threatened to death, she persevered with her choice.   A point of view includes aspects of where we look at it, the way we see and understand someone or something, and the will to do what we have decided. Perhaps we often follow the general point of view that discipline, guidance, upbringing and teachings are torturous and painful. But according to the letter to the Hebrews, it is God's way of training and educating us. Precisely through it all we will be better and safe.   Jesus Christ appeared in public as a man of extraordinary appeal. There were so many impressions from the people around him that it produced various points of view about Him. His fans, disciples, and enemies viewed Him differently. The demons thought that He could be tempted by all their dirty tactics, but Jesus defeated them. The first apostles once asked: Where do you live Master? They saw that Jesus would give them the assurance of life that could satisfy their souls and bodies.   Today's Gospel tells the story of the perspective of neighbors and relatives about the person and work of Jesus Christ. It turned out that their view of Jesus was very limited and very superficial. Jesus was seen as a part of them. There was nothing special about Him. In essence, this is a point of view to belittle and reject Jesus, even though they knew that He had done a great job in helping and overcoming people's difficulties.   A point of view that we have depends heavily on our own standards of knowledge, wisdom and faith. If we are guided by the Holy Spirit and faith in Jesus Christ, our viewpoint is certainly based on God's will. Of course, we always ask for divine light through prayer and reflection in order to get a good and correct point of view. We must be able to free ourselves from having a negative, narrow or subjective, and destructive point of view. This is certainly not from the light of the Holy Spirit. Don't get used to having this point of view! Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O God, our good Lord, may we always look at You with joy on this day. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father...