HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 32ND WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME , YEAR II/Memorial of St. Martin of Tours (Bishop)

Homily for Friday of the 32nd Week in the Ordinary Time

Memorial of St. Martin of Tours (Bishop). 

2 John 4-9; Luke 17:26-37.

St. John in the First Reading gives us two important instructions to please God. Firstly, we must live in love, loving God above all things and loving one another. However, because truth is intimately linked with this commandment of love, walking in that commandment means ultimately walking in the truth. Hence, St. John warns us secondly of deceivers who do not confess that Jesus has come in the flesh.

We must all be wary of deception in our times too. So as not to be deceived concerning the second coming of the Lord, Jesus in today's Gospel warns us not to allow our preoccupation with our daily life distract us from always being ready for the Day of the Lord which will come when we least expect it to come.

We must therefore stand ready and endeavour to please God always by living a life worthy of our Christian faith.

We celebrate the memorial of St. Martin of Tour who was born in Pannonia (now Hungary) to pagan parents in 316 and served as a soldier. At the age of eighteen he was baptised and, around this time, met a naked beggar to whom he gave half his cloak. That night he had a dream in which the Lord Himself was wearing his cloak.

He gave up his career as a soldier and founded a monastery in Liguge in France where he lived a religious life under the guidance of St. Hilary. Then he was ordained a priest and was chosen Bishop of Tours. He always gave the example of a good shepherd, founding new monasteries, instructing the clergy and preaching the gospel to the poor. He died in the year 397.

Through the intercession of St. Martin of Tours, may God grant us the grace to be always prepared so that the Day of the Lord may meet us in a state of grace through Christ our Lord. Amen.