Kudos to Fr Valentine Pawkar, the present Parish Priest of St James Church, Agashi, Vasai, Mumbai, where St Gonsalo Garcia is the patron saint. He states, “Today’s Universal Church, stands on martyr’s blood. Tomorrow’s Church will stand on today’s martyrs.” How true! We live in difficult times of suffering and confusion when Christians are being persecuted and martyred. But are we preparing ourselves for this? One has to be chosen by God, one has to be graced, and one has to pray ardently to withstand the ordeal. No easy task, but with God’s grace nothing is impossible! If Gonsalo Garcia, Rani Maria, Graham Staines and others could stand for their faith, you and I can also be chosen by God for this purpose. If we are true disciples of Jesus the Master, then we are all invited, even challenged to become saints and to lay down our lives for the Kingdom. Am I willing to give my blood for Christ? Do I have the zeal, courage and strength for it? Do I love Jesus intimately to be able to overcome every fear?

We nuns and priests are especially chosen and kept free from worry (1 Cor. 7:32-35). We need to give our undivided attention to the Lord. How are we doing it today? Perhaps we need to pray unceasingly for the grace to be always connected to the Master, so that we do not waver when the going is tough, are blessed with the right experiences and encounters, make the appropriate choices and act when the time is right. Is God inviting us to turn our focus in an unexpected direction? May we priests and nuns ready ourselves to listen and learn from God and others and ready ourselves to lead today’s Church so that tomorrow’s Church can proudly stand on today’s martyrs. May the unceasing flow of God consciousness keep us steady and firm in our faith. Help us Master to trust YOU totally.

Dr (Sr) Mudita Menona Sodder
RSCJ Sophia College, Mumbai