The Memorial of St Boniface

2 Tim. 3:10-17, Mk 12:35-37. Our formation comes first from home and then from our circle of teachers and friends, reinforced by our worship in Church. In today's first reading, Paul refers to this background when writing to Timothy: “From your infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures.” Earlier he praises the sincere faith of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. A good start in the family prepared Timothy for his later apostolic ministry. By contrast in today’s Gospel, the predominant sense is of regret, as religion has been turned into a business and the Temple into a place for controversy. It would have been better if religious people and their leaders are more concerned about the basic virtues of love, patience, forgiveness, generosity and prayer.

Jesus questions such misplaced priority saying that David himself said in the Psalms that the Messiah was Lord, therefore He could not be his son. Jesus is the promise of God that had been announced by the prophets. A peaceful Messiah, not glorious but humiliated; not a warrior nor a hero, but a tortured victim (Ish 50: 5-7) who, paradoxically, will manifest in the ugliness of self-suffering more beauty and victory than that of the richest and most beautiful king in the world (Ish 52: 13-15). Jesus is the Messiah that changes events of things to the advantage of the poor and lowly. He is the Messiah that overturns things, brings reversal of fortune and reverses the logic of our world. This is the Messiah St Boniface whose memorial we celebrate professes. Boniface is remembered for his many works among the pagans in what is now modern day Germany. He committed to the reform of Church practices and disciplines, reducing clerical excesses and secular interference. He encountered much difficulty throughout his ministry, much like Paul and the other Apostles, disciples and servants of God. In the end, waylaid by Frisian bandits during one of his journeys, Boniface faced death in martyrdom defending his faith against the wicked ones.

May the Lord redirect our steps and help us to commit our time, effort and attention to serve the Lord with greater fidelity, commitment, sincerity and love for God and others! Amen!! Stay safe and have a wonderful day!!!