Saint Paul talks about his call: “God called me, the least of all his people”.
The Melrose Suspension Bridge on the Niagara links the United States to Canada. The bridge was reportedly built in 1848 by engineer Theodore Elliot, in this fashion. First, a kite with a thread attached to it was flown across the Niagara River.
Next, a cord was attached to the thread and pulled across. Then, a rope was attached to the cord. Finally, a cable was attached to the rope. The larger cables and the rest of the bridge were moved into place from the cable. Had Paul lived in our modern times, he might have used this story to make the point he stressed in today's reading. He, "the least of all God's people," was the tiny, fragile thread by which God began the conversion of the Gentile world. "I'm only a spark, / Make me a fire, I'm only a string, / Make me a lyre" said the poet, Amado Nervo.
St. John of Capistrano
Imagine living in a country where a deadly plague and civil wars have decimated the population and continued for years, threatening the living. Also, picture the confusion of a church in which two and sometimes three men claimed to be pope. Lastly, consider having responsibility for a religious order bitterly divided into opposing camps. These troubled circumstances provide a backdrop for the life of St. John of Capistrano whose feast we celebrate today.
John studied law at Perugia, Italy, where he married the daughter of a leading citizen and, in 1412, became the governor. Four years later he found himself in jail, as a political prisoner, there he experienced a conversion and decided to become religious. Somehow, he got his wife to pull the strings to release him from the prison. He paraded through Perugia, sitting backwards on a donkey and wearing a paper hat listing all his sins. Having humiliated himself in this bizarre repentance, he applied to the Franciscan order of the Strict Observance, and they accepted him.
Immediately, the order put John on the fast track. Ordained in 1420, with his remarkable gift for speaking, he revived the hope of thousands whose faith had eroded in the chaotic fourteenth century. He preached repentance to laity and clergy alike, especially the Franciscan order. It is said that after listening to one of his preaching, 1000 men wanted to join the Franciscan order on the same day.
Humble Servants
The story of Saint Paul, the Melrose Suspension Bridge building, and the life of St. John of Capistrano highlight how God often uses the most unlikely and humble means to achieve His grand purposes. Paul, who considered himself "the least of all God's people" became" the fragile thread through which the conversion of the Gentiles began. In the same way, St. John of Capistrano, once a political prisoner and filled with remorse for his past, allowed himself to be transformed by God into a powerful preacher, rekindling faith amidst chaos. These remind us that God does not require us to be perfect or prominent to fulfill His mission; He only needs our willingness to be used by Him.
Do we believe that God can use us, no matter how small or insignificant we may feel, to bring light to others? Like the thread of the bridge or the flame of a spark, or the strings of a lyre, God can build something great through us if we offer ourselves to Him.
- Father Boby's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
