Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Or Optional Memorial of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
Matthew 10: 1-7
Martyrs Who Speak Through Their Witness

Dear brothers and sisters,
Today, on the feast of the 120 Martyrs of China, we remember men and women—lay and religious, foreign and Chinese—who gave their lives for the love of Jesus. Among them was Augustine Zhao Rong, a soldier who once escorted a bishop to his death, and whose heart was so moved by the bishop’s witness that he became a Christian, a priest, and finally a martyr. This is the power of example—the authority of a life lived for Christ.

We must never forget that authority in the Christian sense is not about commanding, but about serving. It is about living with such integrity that your words carry weight because your actions speak first. That is what our martyrs did—they spoke with their blood, they preached with their lives. And Jesus gave them the grace not only to believe but also to suffer with joy.

Their names are written not only in the annals of the Church but in the heart of God. When Jesus calls, he calls each one personally. He does not call us as numbers, but as beloved sons and daughters, each with a mission. And so I ask you: Do you know what God is calling you to do today? Listen to your heart. The answer is already there.

Finally, let us not forget that today’s mission field is not far away. It is our own families, our own parishes. We must bring Jesus again to those who have forgotten Him—those who are baptised but have never encountered the living Christ. Let us become missionaries like those we honour today: humble, joyful, and ready to bear witness with our lives.

May the Chinese Martyrs intercede for us, and may we carry Christ with courage and love.
Amen.

© Claretian Publications, Hong Kong, China
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025