My dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord give you peace. Today we celebrate the beautiful memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, who was born in what is now Hungary in 316, yet whose life continues to inspire countless Christians around the world to this day, as his compassion for the poor was emblematic of his commitment to the Gospel message of our Lord.
One of the great stories about Martin which reveals his close proximity to the spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi, and his care and concern for others, is the one that recounts how one day, as a young soldier, he encountered a beggar shivering in the cold. Martin took his own military cloak, and moved with compassion cut it in half so as to completely give warmth to the struggling stranger. That night, he had a vision of Christ wearing the half-cloak, confirming God’s delight in Martin’s act of kindness and compassion. This reminds us of what later happened in the life of Saint Francis to bring about his conversion.
St. Bonaventure writes: “God brought Francis low by illness, in order to prepare his soul to receive the Holy Spirit.” When Francis recovered he met a knight of noble birth, but poor: Francis took
off his own fine clothes and gave them to the knight. In a dream that night, God showed Francis a vision of a palace full of armour, and Francis was told that this was for him and his knights. The next morning Francis pondered on the dream and believed that he was destined to achieve great success in battle as a knight, and so he set out to enlist as a soldier. However, the Lord called to him in a dream telling him to return to his own town.
In the dream God asks him: “Who is it better to serve, the Lord or the servant?” Francis answered, “The Lord, of course.” God responded, “Then why are you obeying the servant and not the Lord?” Francis’ father, who would later disown him, was furious when his son returned without that armour, the best money could buy. This would mark the beginning of Francis’ new course in life where he would leave everything behind so as to serve the Lord, rather than the servant. Jesus began to show him that true greatness was in seeking, living and fulfilling the will of God in our lives.
These powerful encounters of both saints are an example to us of the inextricable link between faith and action in reaching out to our neighbour, especially the poor. Martin would later become a bishop, but even in this high office, he embodied humility and a steadfast commitment to the vulnerable. His life challenges us to reconsider our own interactions with the less fortunate. How do we respond when we see someone in need? Are we quick to offer assistance, or do we turn a blind eye?
In our first reading from the letter to Titus, Paul emphasizes the importance of qualities such as hospitality, goodness, and self-control in church leadership, and in particular in those called to
pastor as bishops. However, these virtues aren’t reserved for bishops or priests alone, but they are essential for each of us who claim to follow Christ.
In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that, "Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard!” So it’s not only a matter of sinning that we need to avoid, but also being the cause of sin in others. For this reason we need to be careful how we dress, talk, behave, and truly place an emphasis and effort on virtuous living.
None of it is possible however, nor was it possible for Saints Martin and Francis without faith. The gospel ends today with the apostles asking our Lord for more faith, and this is a prayer which should more frequently be on our lips, for without faith, as Saint Paul teaches us, it is impossible to please God. Faith will give us the audacity and the courage to trust in God more rather than cling merely to our own capabilities. Faith will allow him to increase, and us to decrease, in the sense that it will help us become more humble. Faith will help us to reach out to the broken and the world around us, rather than continuously turning our gaze inward.
May the Lord continue to bless you as you endeavour to discover and live God’s will in your own life. Saint Martin, and Saint Francis, pray for us and help us to become people who trust in God more and more. Amen.
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