Witness is Both And

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for Canada today presents texts to commemorate the feast of the Jesuit martyrs St. John de Brebeuf, St. Isaac Jogues and their companions. The magnificent imagery of the Book of Revelation presents the victory of the martyr as one of those who are robed in white garments at the heavenly banquet. They are proclaimed as those who have been washed clean in the Blood of the Lamb. This text is the satisfaction we crave to see justice for those who give so much to the welfare of others. Debate rages in the final days of the US presidential election campaign about the nature of Catholic social action. There is no dichotomy between charity and justice. There is tension about relative priority and methods of action but the disciples of Jesus are those who live both virtues. The Letter to the Corinthians reveals the path of the believer to be one where our lives in Christ will bring us through being perplexed, attacked and persecuted. Our faith causes us to speak relying on the grace of Jesus through the Holy Spirit to spread the message which will not suit the ears of those who seek to divide charity and justice and which will likely bring ridicule to us as our ego participates in thanksgiving with the death offered to believers by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke today. The death of self, without which we will not know life, is the daily cross which we are offered to be a witness to the Way.