Reflection Date: June 3, 2026 | Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs
Daily Readings: 2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12; Mark 12:18-27
Children of God:
In the early centuries of Christianity, believers buried their dead in places called Catacombs of Rome.
These were underground tunnels carved beneath the city, forming a network of narrow passageways lined with tombs.
The walls contained small niches where bodies were placed and sealed.
For many, these catacombs may seem dark and frightening, but for early Christians, they were places of hope.
They decorated the walls with simple paintings of biblical scenes like the Good Shepherd, Jonah, and the resurrection.
These images expressed their faith that death was only the gateway to the new life they also desired: the resurrection.
Christians used catacombs partly because burial in open cemeteries was expensive and sometimes restricted.
They also gathered there secretly during times of persecution.
Funeral rites were conducted with prayer, Scripture, and trust in eternal life.
The catacombs became a testimony that they believed in life beyond death.
In the gospel of Mark, a group questioned Jesus about the resurrection, trying to challenge his teaching.
They presented a complicated story to deny the possibility of life after death.
What if a woman is married to seven siblings, who will she end up with there is life after death?
Tricky question, indeed.
What are our inspirations for today?
First, our faith in God calls us to trust in life beyond death.
Jesus said, “He is not God of the dead but of the living” (Mark 12:27).
This showed that God’s relationship with us continues even after death.
The early Christians believed this deeply.
That is why they buried their loved ones with care and hope.
The catacombs were not just burial places but expressions of faith in resurrection.
In our lives, we often fear death or avoid thinking about it.
But faith invites us to see death differently.
It becomes not an end but a passage into eternal life with God.
Our faith in God calls us to trust in life beyond death.
Second, our hope in the resurrection must direct how we live today.
Jesus said, “You are misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Mark 12:24).
Meaning, misunderstanding God can lead to fear and confusion.
The people who questioned Jesus could not see beyond earthly logic.
But Jesus pointed them to a greater reality: there is life after death!
In our daily lives, believing in resurrection gives us courage.
It helps us face struggles, losses, and uncertainties with hope. I
t reminds us that our present life is part of a bigger story.
Our hope in the resurrection must direct how we live today
As we reflect, we ask ourselves: Do I truly believe that life continues beyond death?
How does my faith shape the way I face loss and suffering? In what ways can I live with greater hope each day?
Children of God:
Today, the message of Jesus assures us that God is the God of the living.
Our journey does not end in the grave.
We are called to live with this hope every day.
Like the early Christians, we are invited to trust deeply.
And let us always remember that in God, life never ends.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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