Hebrews 12:14. “Pursue peace with everyone. Pursue sanctity, without which no one shall see God.”

We are blessed with the opportunity to reflect on the powerful messages found in our reading and the inspiring life of St. Agatha, whose feast day we celebrate. These messages offer us insights into living a life of faith and holiness, even amidst challenges and rejection. In the Gospel of Mark 6:1-6, Jesus returns to Nazareth. The people in Nazareth have known Jesus since he was a child. His hometown listens to Him teach in the synagogue and many are astonished by His wisdom. Yet their astonishment quickly turns to skepticism. They ask, “Is now this the carpenter, the son of Mary?” The question they ask reveals their struggle to reconcile the Jesus they knew with the profound teacher before them. Their familiarity blinds them to His divine mission. Since Jesus did not fit the people’s notion of who he is, they resisted his ministry, even though they were amazed. As a result, Jesus could do no mighty work back home, except to heal a few sick people. Their lack of faith in who Jesus had become limits the blessings they could have received. Hearing the word of God and being amazed is not the same as faith. Do we limit the blessings we could be receiving from God because we allow familiarity and skepticism of God to cloud our vision of the miracles he can perform for us every day?

Turning to Hebrews 12:14-17, 11-15, we are urged to “pursue peace with everyone, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” The readers of this letter were faced severe persecution for their faith and were tempted to abandon Christianity. The writer encourages the reader to endure discipline and to strive for a life that reflects God’s holiness. This call to perseverance is not easy, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and the spiritual growth others. Today, we also honor St. Agatha, a young Christian martyr, whose life exemplifies the messages from Mark and Hebrews. Agatha lived in 3rd century Sicily, part of the Roman Empire. She was born into a rich, noble Christian family and was well educated. She was known for her virtue and beauty. At the age of 15, she felt a call and dedicated herself as a consecrated virgin for Jesus. Becoming a consecrated virgin was seen as a special way to show your love to Jesus. She would eventually go onto become a deaconess. A young politician becomes obsessed with Agatha and she rejects him. He tortures her in humiliating and disfiguring ways. Despite the trials and suffering she endured, she remained steadfast in her commitment to Christ, even in her martyrdom. Her courage and unwavering faith in the face of adversity serve as a powerful testament to the strength that comes from a life rooted in holiness and trust in God.

As we reflect on the Feast of St. Agatha and our readings today, we are called to examine our own lives. Are we, like the people of Nazareth, allowing doubt and familiarity to hinder our faith? Or are we, like St. Agatha, embracing the challenges of living a holy life, trusting that God is with us every step of the way? Today, let us strive to cultivate a heart open to God’s presence, ready to see His hand at work in both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of our lives. May we pursue peace and holiness, drawing strength from the examples of Jesus and the saints who have gone before us. May we open our hearts to look deep, beyond the surface of prayer to find the reality of God’s plan for us. May we recognize God, not just in the familiar moments of our life but in the extraordinary ways Jesus has guided and blessed us. We pray for the grace to accept the truth of His plan right before our eyes. Amen.