You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. — Psalm 110:4b

Mass Readings: Hebrews 5:1-10/Mark 2:18-22 

Joy and Sorrow 

When I was in Rome several years ago, each day I would walk through Piazza Navona and past the Church of St. Agnes on my way to a nearby Catholic university. Knowing even a little of St. Agnes’ story of faith — her suffering, her strength, her martyrdom — provided a sorrowful counterpoint to the otherwise carefree feeling that permeated the piazza. 

In between watching street performers, eating gelato, and making my daily “commute,” I would periodically run up the steps of the church hoping to find it unlocked. Finally, I caught it at the right time and slipped inside. There, I contemplated the joy and sorrow that coexist in our Church, our faith, and our lives, taking comfort in the knowledge that the darkness will never overcome the light. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, give me strength to face my sorrows and awareness to celebrate my joys.