Daily reflection _ wednesday of 4thweek OT

A CHALLENGING WAY OF LIFE
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, states: "Since Jesus, the Son of God, showed His love by laying down His life for us, no one has greater love than he who lays down his life for him and for his brothers (cf. I Jn 3:16, Jn 15:13). Some Christians have been called from the beginning, and will always be called, to give this greatest testimony of love to all, especially to persecutors.  
Martyrdom makes the disciple like his Master, Who willingly accepted death for the salvation of the world, and through it he is conformed to Him by the shedding of blood. Therefore the Church considers it the highest gift and supreme test of love. And while it is given to few, all however must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow Him along the way of the cross amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks" (n.42b).
Today the Church honors St. Paul Miki, priest and martyr, and Companions, Martyrs. It is because of their preaching of the Gospel that a new era has come for the Church in Japan. Although the number of Catholics is not large, the Church is respected and has total religious freedom. But, the Church is still challenged in Its growth of new members to the Faith. St. Paul Miki and his companions were mocked and tormented and finally crucified at Nagasaki on February 5, 1597.
From the very beginning, following Jesus has indeed been a challenging way of life. Mark's Gospel gives us a glimpse of that today. Jesus is portrayed as being well aware of how stressful proclaiming the Good News by word and deed can be, particularly in His own native place and especially in His own house and among His own kin. Our Lord was amazed at their lack of faith, but it didn't stop Him from proclaiming the Good News.
Jesus knows that the challenge for us in our time is that ministry can consume all of our time. So much so, that we will even put eating on hold. In His wisdom, Jesus makes a very important point to us. He does not encourage work-a-holism, which drains us of all energy, resources, and creativity. What He encourages is that we go to a place of solitude in order to get reconnected with all that is essential for being effective in doing God's Will and work (cf. Mk 6:31a).
For those who lead the way for the love of Christ - which includes us - are called to a ministry that is a way of life and not an endless series of projects to be accomplished. We need to remember what we read later in Mark's Gospel, "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mk 6:31). For He will teach us many thing