St. Martin of Tours
Readings:
Romans 16: 3-9, 16, 22-27
Luke 16: 9-15
Reflection:
In Paul’s letter to the Romans today we see how much he values the companionship of all his fellow workers in promoting and sharing the ‘Good News’, a gift for all. It suggests that the notion of synodality is not as new as some people think!
In our Gospel from Luke, we can see that God gives us all we have to enable us in our mission of building the kingdom. He shows that the good we do for others can increase the love in their hearts and ours.
This Gospel helps us to see that Jesus knows the human heart very well and he knows that like the song of Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly ‘from little things, big things grow’. Great things start with small actions in the same way that great evil can also begin with small acts of dishonesty. If we can be responsible in little ways then we will be trusted with bigger things.
For me, the message of today’s Gospel is about getting our priorities right in accordance with the values of Jesus and being able to discern when we need to walk away from something that is an obstacle to our service of the Gospel. If God is important in my life, then the choices I make will hopefully reflect that and bring with them freedom and peace.
St Martin of Tours is an outstanding example of today’s Gospel being lived in reality. Though born to pagan parents, he desired from an early age to become a Christian. His father obliged him to become a soldier, and he was serving in France when he had an experience which changed his life’s direction. We are told that Martin was approaching the city of Amiens on horseback one cold evening when he saw a half-naked man shivering on the ground. Martin took his sword, cut his cloak in two and gave half to the man. That night, he had a dream in which Jesus appeared to him clad in the half cloak. He immediately went to be baptised. God always communicates with us through those moments that move our hearts, and today’s Gospel and saint invite us to pay attention. Let’s do one small action to make a difference today and let us on this remembrance day, pray for peace in our world.
Sr. Brigid Murphy CP
Sisters of the Cross & Passion,
Melbourne