Readings
I - 1Cor 9: 19-27
II - Jn. 12: 20-32
ST. JOHN DE BRITTO (Feast)
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. John de Britto, an a ardent ambassador of Christ. He was born in Lisbon, Portugal. When he was small, he was struck with severe illness. He prayed to St. Francis Xavier. When he recovered, his mother clothed him in tunic, worn by Jesuit fathers for a year. From then on, John de Britto was passionate to follow Jesus in the footsteps of St. Francis Xavier, the apostle of India. Against his parents’ opposition, he joined with twenty seven Jesuits and left for India declaring zealously, “God, who called me from the world into religious life, now calls me from Portugal to India”.
He worked in Madura, the Jesuit mission, proclaiming Christ and baptizing people. He took care of those affected by natural disasters and those migrated because of wars. He was plotted for his goodness and charitable activities among the poor and the needy. And finally he was beheaded. John de Britto at the order of the king knelt before the execution block. But the executioner hesitated to kill him. To him John the Britto said, “My friend, I have prayed to God. On my part, I have done what I should do. Now you do your part”. Tremendous courage to lay down his life for the Gospel! In today’s Gospel passage we read, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”. A Martyr turns the heart of multitude towards Christ as has been witnessed by the Church from the time of Jesus, his apostles, early Christians and those Christians of our times as well. Dare to risk life for Christ and it is a courageous witness mark of true Christian. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give me the courage to risk all for you.”
