“WALK DAILY WITH JESUS”, 11/11/25, (Tuesday, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time of Year C. Also, Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Pope, Bishop).

(REMEMBER TO PRAY IN THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR YOUR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED).

COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO ARE GLORIFIED IN THE BISHOP SAINT MARTIN BOTH BY HIS LIFE AND DEATH, MAKE NEW, WE PRAY, THE WONDERS OF YOUR GRACE IN OUR HEARTS, THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE MAY SEPARATE US FROM YOUR LOVE. 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”.

Martin was born into a pagan family. His father was a pagan military tribune in Hungary. At the age of 15, Martin was recruited into the imperial cavalry at Amiens (Gaul). As a young catechumen, Martin one day divided his cloak with a half-naked and shivering beggar. The other half was long preserved as ‘St. Martin’s Cloak’ in the chapel of the Frankish Kings.

Not long after this incident, Martin received baptism. He soon got discharged from the military service and joined the disciples of St. Hilary of Poitiers. His frequent visits to his parents brought about the conversion of his mother but his father remained a pagan. Martin took up the life of a hermit on an island in the Mediterranean when St. Hilary was banished from Gaul by the Arians.

Martin later became a Bishop, and he continued his life of humble simplicity and mortification. To avoid the distractions of the city, he built himself a small cell in the country nearby, and there he was soon joined by other hermits. He founded the first monastery in the West. His administration of his Diocese was characterised by firmness and justice, and by great zeal for the purity of the faith against heretics.

Accordingly, one of St. Martin’s famous prayers was: “Lord, if I am still necessary to your people, I refuse no labour. Your holy will be done” (Martin of Tours) – Exactly the words of the Blessed Virgin Mary when the Angel Gabriel brought her the glad tidings.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus advises his disciples to regard themselves as unprofitable servants who have done only what was expected of them – humble service from humble servants. The portion from the Book of Wisdom we reflect on, however, shows how good God is to his unprofitable servants.

That is why, due to the envy of the Devil, death entered the world and death is now inevitable and a necessary end, but the souls of those who are righteous and just on earth will be taken care of in the hand of God when they die. This will be so because they render humble services to the Lord as humble servants. Such people are tested as unprofitable servants in the work they do on earth.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus does not approve of this master’s abusive and arbitrary behaviour. Rather, Jesus uses this example, which was probably familiar to his disciples, to show the attitude a person should have towards his Creator: everything, from our very existence to the eternal happiness promised us, is one huge gift from God.

We are always in debt to God and we owe Him a lot. Therefore, no matter what services we render him, we can never adequately repay the gifts God has been showering upon us.

There is no sense in any of us adopting a proud attitude towards God. There is also no need to adopt the attitude that, because I think I am faithful to God, discharging my duties and responsibilities with all commitments and dedication, God owes me and should reward me.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is a very good example for us regarding 'an unprofitable servant's attitude' when she replied to God’s Messenger, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord” (Cf. Lk 1:38). May Saint Martin of Tours intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the name Martin of Tours.

WE MEDITATE TODAY, TUESDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “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 the hour of our death, Amen”.

PRAYER: “GRANT TO US WHO HAVE BEEN RESTORED BY THIS SACRAMENT OF UNITY, O LORD, PERFECT HARMONY WITH YOUR WILL IN ALL THINGS, THAT, JUST AS SAINT MARTIN SUBMITTED HIMSELF ENTIRELY TO YOU, SO WE, TOO, MAY GLORY IN BEING TRULY YOURS. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.

Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.