St. Joseph Catholic Church, Winter Haven, Florida

Brothers and sisters: It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, "I have made you father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "Thus shall your descendants be."

You descendants of Abraham, his servants, Sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! You descendants of Abraham, his servants, Sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations. Which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. For he remembered his holy word to his servant Abraham. And he led forth his people with joy; with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say."

In the time of the Emperor Decius, Optimus was proconsul at Pergamum. There were brought before him the blessed Carpus, bishop of Gados, and the deacon Papylus of Thyatira, witnesses of Christ. The proconsul said to Carpus: -What is your name? - My first and most distinctive name is that of Christian, but if you want my name in the world, it is Carpus. - You are surely aware of the emperors' decrees regarding the obligation of venerating the gods who govern all things. And so I suggest that you come forward and offer sacrifice. - I am a Christian and I venerate Christ the Son of God who has come in these latter times for our redemption, and has delivered us from the deceits of the Devil. I will not sacrifice to such idols as these. - Sacrifice to the gods as the Emperor decrees. - May the gods be destroyed, who have not made heaven and earth. - You must offer sacrifice. These are the emperor's orders. - The living do not offer sacrifice to the dead. - Do the gods seem dead to you?' - Yes, and learn why this is so. They look like men, but they are unfeeling. Deprive them of your veneration, and, since they are unfeeling, they will be defiled by dogs and crows. - You must sacrifice. Have pity on yourself. - I do have pity on myself, choosing as 1 do the better part. After this exchange, the proconsul ordered him to be hung up… and scraped with claws. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Then the proconsul turned to Pamfilus to interrogate him. - Are you a magistrate? - No, I am not. - What are you then? Tell me. - I am a citizen. - Do you have children? - Many, indeed. But when he said this, someone in the crowd shouted out: 'He means he has children in virtue of the faith of the Christians. - Why do you lie saying that you have children? - Would you like to understand that I do not lie but that I am telling the truth? I have children in the Lord in every town and city. - Will you sacrifice? Or what have you to say? - I have served God from my youth and I have never offered sacrifice to idols. Rather, I immolate myself to the living and true God, who has power over all flesh. But you will hear nothing further from me. He too was hung up and scraped. Three pairs of torturers were employed but Papylus did not utter a sound. Like a noble athlete he received the angry onslaught of his adversary in great silence… The proconsul ordered them to be burnt alive… In the amphitheatre the bystanders saw that Carpus smiled. Amazed they said to him: 'What are you laughing at?' And the blessed one said: 'I saw the glory of the Lord and I was happy. Besides I am now rid of you and have no share in your sins.' * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * There was a woman named Agathonice standing there who saw the glory of the Lord, as Carpus said he had seen it. Realizing that this was a call from heaven, she raised her voice at once: ‘Here is a meal that has been prepared for me… I am christian. I have never sacrifice to demons, but to God alone. If I am worthy, I shall eagerly desire to follow the footsteps of my teachers.’ The proconsul said to her: ‘Sacrifice, lest I sentence you to a similar death.’ - Do what you will. But this is what I have come for, and this is what I am prepared for, to die for Christ’s name. And when she was led to the spot, Agathonice removed her clothing and threw herself joyfully upon the stake. But when the crowd saw how beautiful she was, they lamented, saying: ‘It is a terrible sentence; these are unjust decrees.’ As soon as she was touched by the fire she shouted aloud three times: ‘Lord, Lord, Lord, assist me! For you are my refuge.’ These were her final words.

Brothers and sisters: What then can we say that Abraham found, our ancestor according to the flesh? Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works, he has reason to boast; but this was not so in the sight of God. For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due. But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. So also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record."

Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,” and you took away the guilt of my sin. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just; exult, all you upright of heart.

At that time: So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. He began to speak, first to his disciples, "Beware of the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the Pharisees. There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows."

It seems to me you ought to resolve to carry out peacefully what you can. Don’t worry about all the rest but entrust to divine Providence what you are unable to accomplish on your own. What is pleasing to God is the reasonable care and attention we give to accomplishing well whatever business we must undertake through duty. What is not pleasing to God is anxiety and disquiet of mind. The Lord wants our limitations and weaknesses to find their support in his strength; he wants us to hope that his goodness will make up for the imperfectness of our means. Those who take on numerous responsibilities, even with an upright intention, must resolve to do simply what lies within their power… If it is necessary to set certain things aside, arm yourselves with patience and don’t think that God expects of us what we are unable to do. He doesn’t want a man to distress himself on account of his limitations…; there is no need to tire ourselves out excessively. More, if we have tried hard to do our best, we can abandon all the rest to Him who has the power to accomplish what he will. May the divine goodness always be pleased to communicate the light of wisdom to us so that we may clearly see and firmly accomplish his good pleasure, for ourselves and for others… so that we may accept from his hand whatever he sends us, taking due note of what is the most important: patience, humility, obedience and charity.