33rd Friday in Ordinary Time, Feast of St. Cecilia. November 22, 2024
Rv 10:8-11; Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; Lk 19:45-48
Can you imagine eating a book? That is basically what John was told to do, eat a scroll, so he could be one with the Word of God. The image of eating the Word of God, is a symbol of “consuming” or a total understanding of the words written in the paper. In this case, John is told to eat the Word of God so as to become so familiar with it, that it becomes part of him. As the story suggests, it tastes as sweet as honey, but as it hits our stomachs, it turns sour. So, as it is with our life as we strive to become saints. We love to read the word of God and learn as much as we can, but when it comes time to live it out, we sour. Living the life Christ wants us to can be bittersweet at times. While we welcome it with much great love, we struggle to fulfill the call.
St. Cecila, whose feast day is today, was one who literally consumed the Word of God. She was forced to be married to a pagan noble, Valerianus, who was somehow convinced to let her remain a virgin. Valerianus was also convinced to become a Christian. Valerianus, along with Cecila’s brother, embarked on the task of burying martyrs. Both were caught and beheaded along with Maximus. Cecilia herself was arrested while burying them and was sentenced to death. She was supposed to be smothered, but miraculously survived and was sentenced to beheading instead. The soldier tasked with carrying out the beheading bungled it, and Cecilia survived 3 days before succumbing to her injuries. She died on September 16th, sometime in the third century. A legend suggests that on her wedding night Ceclia did not hear the secular music but sang to the Lord in her heart. She is the patroness of musicians and societies bearing her name were founded to promote sacred music in the Church.
As we look at the Gospel today, we see where Jesus also found a struggle with those in the temple yard. The temple was to be a house of prayer, but He found all sorts of illicit behavior there and was forced to drive them out. It seems like Jesus found a bittersweet place. Sweet because it was God’s house, but bitter because it became a den of thieves. As we consume the sweet word of God, do not be afraid of the bitter aftertaste. Let us imitate St. Cecilia with all the sweetness of the Gospel, and the bitterness of martyrdom. It is there, we will find salvation.
Saint James Catholic Church 