Readings
I - Sir. 35: 1-12
II - Mk. 10: 28-31
JOAN OF ARC
In Today’s Gospel passage Jesus assures his disciples who have left everything to follow him of three Ps: Prosperity, Persecution and Perpetual life. The followers of Jesus will be blessed with hundredfold prosperity on this earth; on account of his name his disciples should also endure persecutions like sufferings, setbacks and sorrows; but as a reward they will inherit perpetual life with him in the paradise. Even if we are considered least here on this earth on account of Jesus, we might be the first to inherit eternal life.
Today the Church remembers St. Joan of Arc, a pious peasant girl of France, yet a valiant warrior who even at the age of 13, fought for his nation against the English and achieved a stunning victory in crowing King Charles VII. At the age of 16, when her father insisted her to get married she shirked saying that she has taken the vow of chastity and that she should not be forced to get married. Joan of Arc had locutions that involved hearing divine voices of St. Michael, St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Margaret of Antioch. She was accused of witchcraft and sorcery by enemy forces and was burnt alive at the age of 19. Joan of Arc was considered one of history’s greatest martyrs, and the patron saint of France. Joan of Arc was declared a saint by Pope Benedict XV. On account of adhering to the Lord, Joan endured to the point of being burnt alive with false accusations. She is now a saint enjoying the eternal bliss. May the saint intercede for us to stand steadfast in our Christian faith with conviction as we keep praying, “St. Joan of Arc, Pray for us”
