Thursday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time. Year II (St Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr). Philemon 1:7-20; Luke 17:20-25
Josaphat was born at a time of great disunity in the Eastern Church, as a result of the union of the Ruthenian Church and Catholicism. One party wanted to remain Orthodox, and the other wanted to remain within Moscow’s control and Constantinople. He was perhaps the first to make the move to become Catholic of the Slavonic rite. His eventual ordination and appointment as Bishop of Polotsk, so much threatened the relationship between Church and State that Josaphat was eventually murdered by a mob in 1623 while on a pastoral visit to Vitebsk.
Friends, There is a Catholic Hymn that reminds us that “great things happen when God mixes with men.” Because of Christ Jesus, Josaphat gave his life fighting for the unity of God’s people. He was so good at preaching that he was dubbed “the thief of souls.” Like Josaphat, St Paul appeals to Philemon in the first reading to receive Onesimus back as a brother, and no more a slave; to mend their broken relationship and embrace unity. When we truly recognise God’s presence among us, we no longer rush from place to place in search for Him. We begin to see Him in everyone and in everything. Do you have any broken relationships you need to mend today? Do it!
Prayer
May we come to realize more fully, God’s abiding presence in us, and strive to become bridge builders, Amen.
St Josaphat, pray for us.
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