Thursday, 24th NOVEMBER St Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, Martyrs.

Thursday, 24th NOVEMBER
St Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, Martyrs.

Luke 21:20-28

Jesus said to his disciples, "great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled...And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Towards the end of the liturgical year the Gospel insists on hope. Our Lord explains what we should expect: persecutions, wars, catastrophes of all kinds...But then He reminds us that we need to 'raise our heads because our redemption is near'.

"Raise your heads", Jesus is telling us, 'don't look down, don't get discouraged by everything that goes on around you, don't be afraid; raise your heads, look to Heaven, keep your sights on God...don't lose heart, don't lose hope!'

We need to raise our heads and look at Jesus Christ on the Cross. His Body nailed to the wood teaches us to be faithful; His wounded Skin shows us the price of our sins; His open Side gives us an insight into the Love of His Sacred Heart for us; His Head pierced by multiple thorns reminds us to keep our heads up...Raise your head and look at the Pierced God and you will understand that the disciple has to follow the Master; that there is only one way to show your love: through suffering.

Father Francesco Bressani was an Italian Jesuit who arrived in North America in 1642 as a missionary. One day he and a recently converted man were captured and tortured for the Faith. It was a slow and drawn-out martyrdom lasting for several weeks.

The Jesuit wrote to his Superior: "I have no more than one entire finger; six times they burned my hands, over eighteen times they have applied fire and hot iron on my body and forced me to sing during the ordeal."

When they started to torture his companion, the convert said, 'Father Bressani, I can't take this anymore, I see I'm going to waver: Quick, quick, Father, show me your hands - they tell me how to love God..!'

Mary, Mother of the Crucified, help me to keep my head up and to look at Him!
He teaches me to suffer and to love.