Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
The scriptures today present the early church as a beacon of courage, persecuted for daring to challenge the status quo. This was a world where ‘the haves’ subjugated ‘the have-nots, stripping them of their humanity, and ‘the haves’ became bullies to impose control. In Luke, Jesus condemns this injustice. Inspired by Paul, Titus is directed to ‘walk the walk’ and ‘talk the talk’ of Christianity, founding communities throughout Crete.
History shows that the seeds of change, planted by Jesus and nurtured by the early Christians, eventually took root and bore fruit. Saint Martin of Tours, a shining example, is presented by the Church as one of the early saints who, like Titus, was not martyred. Change may come slowly, but the impact of believers in Jesus, living a life of loving one another, is significant and hopeful.
It is not a sin to have comfortable clothes, nourishing food, comfortable housing, clean running water, friends, and skills to produce and share these gifts for living. In fact, it is a blessing. However, each of us needs to learn to develop skills and contribute efforts to achieving and sharing these gifts together. Your contribution is not just appreciated; it is integral to our community.
Saint Peter Julian Eymard is an example of achieving this goal. His life paralleled Titus’s and Martin’s lives, directing the poor to Jesus. He encouraged the people to be open to an attitude of love of Jesus and appreciation of the Eucharist as true nourishment for living a life of being a sibling with the poor. He is not saying to deny one’s needs; instead, he focuses on sharing one’s gifts. It begins with having an interest in the Eucharist. It develops into an attitude of love and appreciation, which morphs into an intent to do more, to teach by example more, and to love one another more. The Eucharist nourishes these, and a new status quo can be achieved.
How can we exemplify the call to spread the gift of the Eucharist in our individual lives like Titus, Martin, and Peter Julian?
Let Us Pray:
Come Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of the faithful. Enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit, and we shall be reborn, thus meeting more sisters and brothers to share the joy of Jesus in our lives. Amen.
