ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Bishop Maginnis,
Brother Priests and Deacons,
Dear Men and Women in Consecrated Life,
Dear Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver,
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Praised be Jesus Christ!

A few moments ago, dear friends, we sang “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name”. What a beautiful way for us to begin this Sacred Liturgy, for it is indeed in the Name of Jesus that we gather to offer praise and thanksgiving to God the Father.

We gather today to remember and honor our beloved Saint Martin de Porres so close to his actual feast day. This is indeed a great tradition in our Archdiocese, whereby since his canonization in 1962, we have venerated him as a saint of the Church. I was blessed to be present in Rome for his canonization in 1962. What a joyful day that was for our Church! We also recognize this year the centennial of the founding of the Knights of Peter Claver. Our local Councils and Courts of Knights and Ladies are present here today in such numbers and we are grateful for all they do for our Church.

Finally, we remember this year the vision and generosity of Mr. Matthew McCloskey, Jr., who founded the Martin de Porres Foundation sixty years ago. This great gift to our Archdiocese has offered so much support to build up leadership in our Church among our African American brothers and sisters.

Yet, the primary cause of our joy is Jesus Christ, who comes to us at this Holy Mass in Word and Sacrament. So, once again then we proclaim: praised be Jesus Christ!

In our readings today, we focus on two widows. In the Book of Kings, the prophet Elijah asks a poor widow for a cup of water and then a little cake. She is surprised by his request, since she herself is in such great need. However, she trusts in his promise that, if she is generous, God will bless her. Indeed, after sharing what little she had, she and her son were able to eat for a year. Because of her faith and generosity, as the Scriptures attest: “the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry.”

That same theme is heard in the Gospel of Saint Mark, as Jesus calls His disciples to focus on a poor widow and her generosity. He invites them to notice how she makes her offering of “two small coins worth a few cents.” He tells them that, unlike the others who gave from their surplus wealth, “she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” She does not simply make a financial contribution, but surrenders her whole life.

Dear friends, these are great stories of inspiration. Even with the little that we may have, we are called to be generous and to share, just as God has done for us. How well do we know the passage from the Gospel of Saint John: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3: 16).

Our Heavenly Father has shown us His generosity by giving us His Son, Jesus, “Who did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, but Heaven itself, that He might now appear before God on our behalf” (Hebrews 9:24-28) It was precisely His sacrifice on the cross that saved us and saved our world. It was that sacrifice that shows each one of us how we are to love one another. For there can be no love without sacrifice.

Is that not exactly what Saint Martin de Porres did so well? Did he not offer his life as a sacrifice of service to the poor and the needy? In his homily at the canonization of Saint Martin de Porres, Pope John XXIII, now Blessed John XXIII said: “He was tireless in his efforts to reform the criminal, and he would sit up with the sick to bring them comfort. For the poor be would provide food, clothing and medicine. Common people responded by calling him “Martin the charitable.”

As we honor Saint Martin de Porres today, as we do every year, we are challenged to do so by imitating him. We are called to offer our time, talent and treasure to help those in need. Even our small acts of kindness, like helping in our parishes and schools, visiting the sick, or sharing our resources, imitate the life of Saint Martin de Porres and indeed Jesus Himself.

Saint Paul wrote these beautiful words to the Galatians: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). May we put those words into action and may Saint Martin de Porres pray for us. Amen