(REMEMBER TO PRAY IN THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR YOUR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED).
COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO LED SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES BY THE PATH OF HUMILITY TO HEAVENLY GLORY, GRANT THAT WE MAY SO FOLLOW HIS RADIAN EXAMPLE IN THIS LIFE AS TO MERIT TO BE EXALTED WITH HIM IN HEAVEN. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Rom 11:29-36; Ps 68:30-31,33-34,36-37 and Lk 14:12-14.
Saint Martin, whose memorial we celebrate today, was born in Lima, Peru, to a Spanish grandee father and a black Panamanian mother. Martin learned the art of healing as a boy, and when he entered the Dominican Order, he served as infirmarian. When he professed his Religious Vows, he tended the poor who were ill, and was known for his gentleness with animals. Martin was blessed with extraordinary spiritual gifts, and he led a life of profound prayer and penance. He is the Patron Saint of African-Americans.
One sin with its forms, commonly committed by most of us but sometimes taken for granted is SELFISHNESS. In our selfishness, we have no compassion, mercy and love for others, especially those who are “less fortunate than we are. At best, the selfish person may only pretend as if he/she is showing mercy, compassion and love to the less fortunate person. Selfishness is demonstrated in many forms. These include, doing things for vainglory, for fame or to be praised or for our own interests and gains. Otherwise, I will not do anything for anyone.
But this is also a sign of pride/arrogance. Another form of selfishness is when I have to do things for people because I am convinced one day, they will return that act to me, especially when I am in trouble or in need in future. This attitude shows that I do not lose what I am giving out to others because it is more like an investment. Jesus condemns this attitude in the Gospel we are meditating on.
Today, Jesus challenges and at the same time urges us to avoid the sin of selfishness. Rather, Jesus suggests hosting a banquet for the poor and the disabled, like the crippled, the lame and the blind, in fact, the handicapped and marginalised in society. These are people who can never pay us back, but who are a treasure and a blessing to you. The parable of the Last Judgment in Mt 25:31-46 teaches us more about taking good care of the poor and the disabled in society, as a great treasure and blessing. We are urged to consciously look out for people’s interests rather than our own. This goes with the virtue of humility. Indeed, the spirit of considering others’ interests as more important than our own links us with Christ, who was a true example of humility.
The sin of selfishness has a lot of negative consequences both on society and on the individual. It widens the gap between the poor and the rich, making the rich richer and the poor poorer. It retards development both in society and in the individual. It could easily result in exploitation and extortion of both the existing system and people.
This is true because the poor, who need to survive could be handled anyhow by the rich for their personal gains and interests. It also results in hypocritical lifestyles in society. Maybe, certain parts of our contemporary world are not excepted. One only needs to open one’s eyes and ears a bit, just to see and hear what goes on in the world. This, of course, results in a lot of social vices. We could go on and on but suffice it.
Let us pray that as Christ representatives in the world which is seemingly divided between the rich and poor, caused by selfishness and greed, where the latter suffers more, we may encourage, bring joy/happiness, show mercy, compassion and love to the poor as we generously share what we have with them without counting the cost or without expecting any returns from them but from God. May Saint Martin de Porres, who tended the poor, intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the name Martin de Porres.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, MONDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “BY THE POWER OF THE SACRAMENT, LORD, WE PRAY, LEAD US ALWAYS IN YOUR LOVE, THROUGH THE EXAMPLE OF BLESSED MARTIN DE PORRES, AND BRING TO FULFILMENT THE GOOD WORK YOU HAVE BEGUN IN US UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!