Feb. 5, 2014 Wednesday: St. Agatha
God's Unconditional Love
What can we say about God's love? We can say that God's love is unconditional. God does not say, "I love you, if ..." There are no ifs in God's heart. God's love for us does not depend on what we do or say, on our looks or intelligence, on our success or popularity. God's love for us existed before we were born and will exist after we have died. God's love is from eternity to eternity and is not bound to any time-related events or circumstances. Does that mean that God does not care what we do or say? No, because God's love wouldn't be real if God didn't care. To love without condition does not mean to love without concern. God desires to enter into relationship with us and wants us to love God in return.
Let's dare to enter into an intimate relationship with God without fear, trusting that we will receive love and always more love.
- Fr Henri Nouwen
St. Agatha
Most of what we know about St. Agatha is based on legend. Agatha was a beautiful Christian girl from a wealthy family in Sicily. She lived in the third century, a time when the emperor Decius was persecuting the Christians. While she was still young, she dedicated her life to God, vowing not to get married.
The governor heard of Agatha’s beauty and brought her to his palace. He wanted to make her do sinful things, but she was brave and would not give in. “My Lord Jesus Christ,” she prayed, “I belong only to you. Help me to be strong against evil.”
Then the governor tried sending Agatha to the house of a wicked woman. He hoped the woman would convince Agatha to do sinful things. But Agatha had great trust in God and prayed all the time. She kept herself pure. She would not listen to the evil suggestions of the woman and her daughters. After a month, Agatha was brought back to the governor. “You are a noblewoman,” he said kindly. “Why have you lowered yourself to be a humble Christian?”
“Even though I am a noble,” answered Agatha, “I am a slave of Jesus Christ.”
“Then what does it really mean to be noble?” the governor asked.
Agatha answered, “It means to serve God.”
When he realized that Agatha would not agree to the evil he wanted her to do, the governor became angry. He had Agatha whipped and tortured. As she was being carried back to prison she whispered, “Lord, my Creator, you have protected me from the cradle. You have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Now receive my soul.”
Agatha died a martyr at Catania, Sicily, in the year 251.
We can learn from St. Agatha’s example. Like her, we can pray with all our heart when we are tempted to do anything wrong. This is the way we can develop a good and strong character.
-Daughters of St. Paul
