We celebrate Saint Martin of Tours today, a man who moved from Roman soldier to humble bishop, and whose life perfectly illustrates our rea...
We celebrate Saint Martin of Tours today, a man who moved from Roman soldier to humble bishop, and whose life perfectly illustrates our readings.
First, Service. St. Martin’s most famous act, sharing his military cloak with a freezing beggar, was an act of profound Christian service long before he was even baptized. It perfectly complements our Gospel, where Jesus speaks of the "unprofitable servant." The message is this: True service is simply doing what is required, without expecting praise or reward. If a great saint like Martin, who performed countless acts of charity, lived with this humility, how much more should we! We are called to serve one another, not for a reward, but because it is our duty and our joy.
The First Reading speaks of God's Sovereignty. "The souls of the upright are in the hand of God, and no torment can touch them." This is the magnificent promise of our faith—that our ultimate well-being is not in the hands of man or the hands of fate, but in the Sovereign and loving hand of God. St. Martin understood that his true commander was not the Roman Emperor, but Christ the King, whose Sovereignty protects His righteous ones.
Finally, Martin's life and the Gospel call us to Selflessness. The servant says, "We have done no more than our duty." This is true Christian selflessness—to act for the sake of love, not for profit or recognition. St. Martin's charitable act was purely selfless, a spontaneous gesture of love that clothed Christ Himself. May we, like St. Martin, embrace service with selflessness, trusting always in God's eternal Sovereignty. Amen.
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