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Today we celebrate one of the most famous martyr saints of Poland.  One may think that being made a Bishop or something else important makes our life valuable.  St. Stanislaus could have considered that his life was more important than making a point to an evil king.  He could have considered that the good he would cause by shepherding the flock, teaching, preaching, etc, was more important than making an example of a bad king.  It isn’t as though anyone liked the king or thought he was making good decisions!  This is where the faith of a martyr, like the faith of St. John the Baptist, draws its strength directly from the rock of truth.  When the Holy Spirit moves us to stand for the truth, let us make our minds firm in faith and cling to Jesus Christ. read more

Quotes:

“Would you like to know how he is born of a virgin and, after his nativity, the mother is still a virgin? “The doors were closed, and Jesus entered.” There is no question about that. He who entered through the closed doors was neither a ghost nor a spirit. He was a real man with a real body. Furthermore, what does he say? “Touch me and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” He had flesh and bones, and the doors were closed. How do flesh and bones enter through closed doors? The doors are closed, and he enters, whom we do not see entering. Whence has he entered? Everything is closed up. There is no place through which he may enter. Nevertheless he who has entered is within, and how he entered is not evident. You do not know how his entrance was accomplished, and you attribute it to the power of God. Attribute to the power of God, then, that he was born of a virgin and the virgin herself after bringing forth was a virgin still.” read more

There is a bit of irony in the story of the disciples going fishing after the resurrection.  After the intense drama of the passion and first appearances of the risen Christ, Peter decides to go fishing.  For most of us, fishing is something we might do on vacation or in order to relax.  We haven’t forgotten that this is how the disciples made a living, but you still get the impression that they wanted to take a break.  Work can be like a break, a different kind of activity that stimulates the mind and the senses when we want to change our focus.  I wonder if St. Peter was looking for some way to distract himself or recover some kind of routine or stability. read more