Saint Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor
Saturday of the 4th week of Eastertide
Gospel: Matthew 10:22-25
In today’s Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for the reality of mission: fidelity to Him will bring both fruit and opposition. “When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.” This is not weakness, but wisdom rooted in trust. The power to remain faithful, to discern when to stay and when to move, and to continue proclaiming the Gospel comes from the Risen Lord. The Resurrection does not remove difficulties; it transforms them into a path of witness. The disciple is not above the Master, and just as Christ passed through rejection to glory, so too His followers walk a path marked by both trial and grace. On the memorial of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, we remember a life that endured exile and persecution with unwavering fidelity to the truth of Christ. His courage was rooted not in human strength, but in the certainty that Christ is risen and alive. During the Easter season, we are invited to draw from this same source: the living presence of the Risen Lord, who gives us the strength to persevere, the wisdom to act, and the courage to continue proclaiming Him in every circumstance. Let’s reflect: Easter is drawing strength from the Risen Lord to persevere in trials, discern wisely, and continue proclaiming Him in every circumstance.
Don Giorgio