The first reading from the prophet Nahum starts out with such upbeat, positive words. “See upon the mountains good news, announcing peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah, fulfill your vows! For nevermore shall you be invaded by the scoundrel, he is completely destroyed.”
But, the last half of the first reading for Mass today sounds vaguely familiar and is not at all positive. It talks about evil, murder, a bloody city, the heaping corpses and endless bodies. It is similar to the current situation of the Christians being persecuted and killed in Iraq right now. It is revolting to even read the words of the second half of these readings, because they are a little too close for comfort. It breaks the hearts of Christians throughout the world to see the widespread loss of human life, especially the little babies and innocent children. The images on the television and internet are almost unbelievable, that human beings could do these things to one another.
Please consider praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ that are fleeing for their lives in Iraq, and all those who have lost family members during this terrible ordeal. There is no comfort for them at the moment, but our prayers, and their faith in God in these difficult circumstances. The last sentence of the first reading reflects this sentiment too, “Where can one find any to console her?”
There is some comfort in Christ’s words, for us anyway, that, “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Those who are dying in Christ’s name in Iraq right now are martyrs. They witnessed today’s gospel, by their life and by their death. Would we have the courage to do the same?
The gospel fits their situation perfectly:
“What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct.”
How heavy our hearts are today. Each verse in the scriptures are being played out in real life right now, by our brothers and sisters in Christ in Iraq. Even the first two sentences apply to them, because they were given a choice to deny their Christian faith, convert and pay a tax, leave their homeland or die:
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
All we can do is pray that those who lost their lives found comfort in their faith in Jesus Christ, and that he was there with them through the most terrible ordeal of their lives. Their faith has been put to the ultimate test and they are each and every one, a holy martyr. Even if they are not Catholics, they died for Jesus Christ.
The only thing that we might be able to learn from today’s scriptures, is to see how they are manifested in real life, and ask ourselves if we would have the courage to live them out in our own life, if we were ever called to do so?
Prayer for the Victims of War
Lord God,
no one is a stranger to you
and no one is ever far from your loving care.
In your kindness, watch over refugees and victims of war,
those separated from their loved ones,
young people who are lost,
and those who have left home or who have run away from home.
Bring them back safely to the place where they long to be
and help us always to show your kindness to strangers
and to all in need.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Daily Mass Readings:
Nahum 2: 1, 3; 3: 1-3, 6-7 / Psalm Dt 32 / Matthew 16: 24-28
