Monday, June 08, 2020 - Saint Jacques Berthieu - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 15, 18-21 - If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, rests upon you.
The Church today celebrates St. Jacques Berthieu, and the Gospel of the day lends itself to it. As Jesus said at the beginning of today's Gospel, "If the world hates you, know that it first hated me." It can be said that St. Jacques Berthieu did not turn away from Christ, he kept his word, he remained faithful to Him. "This is unacceptable," said the saint. "I'd rather die," he continued. That's the word that came out of his mouth when he was tortured by his executioners to make him deny his faith in God. It is true that it is faith that saves, he kept his faith even in the worst moments of suffering. A suffering that cost him his life, but which is only temporary.
Brothers and sisters, this missionary priest of the third millennium is an example for us. Let us remember, enduring all kinds of suffering will always be rewarded in heaven, because all suffering has a price. It is a promise that God makes to us, according to the words of the first reading that the Church gives us today, taken from the Book of Wisdom: "After small sorrows, great blessings await them, for God has tested them and found them worthy of him. As gold in the crucible, he has tried them; as a perfect offering, he welcomes them." (3, 5.6)
Christian brothers and sisters, many other missionaries are still persecuted and hated for their evangelizing efforts, especially in war zones. Many of them endure trials, yet they are God's instrument for establishing the Church and making God's presence known. Let us pray, therefore, that we may have the unshakeable faith like St. Jacques Berthieu, that all missionaries may have the patience and courage to sacrifice their lives for the salvation of souls. Jesus! May the blood that St. Jacques Berthieu shed for our island fertilize the Christian faith and enrich the life of the Church. Amen.
