St. Martin of Tours, whom we celebrate today, served as a soldier who sought peace and a life modeled on Jesus.
While serving in the Roman army, St. Martin came upon a poor half-clothed shivering beggar outside the city gates in Amiens, France. Moved with compassion, he used his sword to divide his own cape and gave half to the man in need. Later that night, Martin saw Jesus in a vision and heard Him tell the angels, “Martin who is still a catechumen gave me this robe.”
Moved by this—it said that “Martin flew to be baptized.” Afterward, he resigned from the army and founded a monastery in France. He served as Bishop of Tours from 372 until 397 with great pastoral care—creating a rural parish system, faithfully visiting village churches, beginning monasteries as hubs of education.
Today’s gospel would have formed Martin’s understanding of what it means to be a Christian. Although those who contracted leprosy were ignored and set apart, the words, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us” moved Jesus to take action. We see the parallel in St. Martin’s response to the poor half-naked man he encountered.
In the gospel, Jesus tells the leper (a Samaritan) who returned glorifying God, falling at the feet of Jesus, to “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
The grace of God is at work--both when we are the recipient or the giver of charity in God’s Name—and through them we discover both the heart of Jesus and the people that God intends us to be.
May we pray to have the heart of Jesus and St. Martin of Tours!
- Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
-
To view Rosary prayer and Mass streaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EST, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too! (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
