There are a few guests who come to Morning Glory for breakfast who for religious reasons do not eat pork. Sometimes the main dish is an egg casserole that has pork. When it does, they refuse to take any. Fortunately, there are usually other items that they can eat.

It's tempting to think, "Beggars can't be choosers," and so they should eat it any way. However, there's something admirable in their refusal on faith grounds, as they sure are quite hungry.

The first reading this Sunday tells a portion of the story of a family that refused to eat pork for religious reasons. The family consisted of a mother and her seven sons. One by one each son was told to eat pork or be tortured and killed. All seven refused to eat the pork and all seven died, as well as their mother. One said, "We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors."

There may be times, right now or in the future, where our faith will be tested. Most likely, it will not be tested to the point of torture or death, but it may be tested by being ostracized by those close to us.

Our faith should be counter-cultural. When it is, will we give in and compromise, or hold fast to our beliefs?