Saint Agatha, Virgin, Martyr
Thursday of week 4 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13
In the Gospel of today (Mark 6:7–13), Jesus sends the Twelve on mission with a striking instruction: take nothing extra, not even a spare tunic. This radical simplicity reveals a profound truth; the mission does not belong to the disciples; it is the mission of Jesus Himself. By carrying no second tunic, the disciples are invited to trust not in their own resources, strategies, or securities, but in the grace already given to them. The one tunic they truly need is the tunic of baptism, the identity they have received in Christ, clothed in His life and authority. Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr, embodies this Gospel with her total gift of self: she held nothing back, relying entirely on Christ even unto suffering. Today’s Word reminds us that authentic mission flows from who we are in Christ, not from what we possess. When we travel light, rooted in our baptismal dignity, we allow Jesus Himself to act through us, making our lives a credible and living proclamation of the Gospel. Let’s reflect: Am I relying on my own securities and “extra tunics,” or do I trust that my baptismal identity in Christ is enough for the mission He entrusts to me?
Don Giorgio