feast of st. agatha, feb. 5, 2010

Today is the feast of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr, who died in the year 251 in Sicily during the persecutions of the emperor of the time. She is the patron saint of fire because she is credited with stopping the eruptions of Mt. Etna. The gospel from today's readings is the story of the beheading of John the Baptist. This reading is seen as a prefigurement of what is to come for Jesus. Because he will be the victim like John. While Herod, it is said, liked to hear what John said, he was perplexed. Like I am when I hear Jesus' parables and look at his life, I am perplexed. You mean, you want me to do what?