Memorial of St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr
Today, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Josaphat, a bishop martyred on this day in 1623. St. Josaphat is most well-known for his zeal in uniting the Eastern and Western Churches. From a young age, he desired to give his life to the service of our Lord and started to study the lives of the saints rigorously. He eventually became a monk of the Basilian Order and later the Archbishop of Polotsk in present-day Belarus. He was killed by an angry mob who did not want the Eastern and Western Churches to unite. Like all the saints, Josaphat knew that his place was serving Christ and His people. This is what Jesus is talking about in our Gospel today.
Oftentimes, we may feel like God owes us something, but in reality, he owes us nothing. God was not forced to create us; He created us because He desires to share His love with us. He owes us nothing, but we owe him everything. This is why Josaphat and all the saints handed their lives over to Christ. They realized that the greatest way to repay God’s gift to them was to give Him their lives in return. Unfortunately, it is difficult for us to surrender our lives to Christ. This is why we must create virtuous habits to help us live our Christian faith in an authentic way. Paul, in today’s first reading, gives a blueprint to model our lives after. Paul understands that without guidance and direction, we can easily go astray.
How have I gone astray from Christ today? What is keeping me from running back to him? Finally, how can I, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, bring those around me closer to Christ today? St. Josaphat, pray for us.
Reflection by Collin, seminarian
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections