Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs

But after the three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered them. When they stood on their feet, great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, "Come up here." So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies looked on.

Sometimes it may seem like our enemies have triumphed over us or that the wicked are rewarded for their misdeeds, but in the end, there is always a reckoning with God. Those who mock and persecute us will have to answer for their sins, just as we will have to answer for ours if we trespass against others. Those who do wrong and spurn good will be judged by God and go to their punishment, while those who do good and avoid evil will go to their reward. Those who lie about God, His Church, and His children will be silenced, while the good and faithful people will speak the Truth, follow the Way, and live the Life of Christ for all eternity. We can only hope to be such good witnesses to the Good News that one day God will say to us, “Come up here” and lift us up to heaven and eternal life.

How can we keep faith with God when it seems everything is going wrong? What can we do to ensure we are counted among the good and faithful servants of God? In what ways can we witness to the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ?

O Lord, lift us up and make us into a holy people.

Amen.