Saint Martin of Tours Bishop Year 1 2023

He is then more or less forced into the bishopric and spends his life seeking to mercifully convert rather than eradicate heretics, care for his flock, which is widely scattered, and be faithful to God.

Of course, there are the miracles along the way, but they are God’s working in a through Martin, not the core of what he was about.

That brings us to Paul

Paul writes to a single church, Rome, that had multiple what we could call “house parishes” scattered through the large city. It is not clear whether these were places for the Eucharist or whether they were teaching and pastoral centers. Whatever the case, there were faithful leaders - we do not know if any were presbyters - native Romans like Prisca and Aquila, who risked their lives for Paul, Epaenetus, an early Asian convert, Mary, Andronicus and Junia, apparently a couple who had been imprisoned with Paul and whose service to Christ made them either “outstanding apostles” or “well-known among the apostles.” And there are others as well, all valued by Paul who wants the church to value them as well.

Notice that the Church is one, both in Rome and between Rome and Corinth, although in Corinth the central gathering of the Church was hosted by Gaius - we do not know who hosted it in Rome.

Each of these was first committed to God and then did what God led them into, not always, I am sure, what they planned. All of them cared for others and for the local church as a whole. There is no talk of ranks or status. God will deal with that in heaven.

So Jesus gives a concrete teaching

He has been talking about money or property in Luke chapter 16. So he says, Use what you have for the kingdom, especially for the care of the poor, for then the poor will welcome you into heaven. That is what Martin of Tours did (as did Charles Boromeo and many other saints). Your funds are not yours, but God’s, whose you also are. If you focus on money and property (as we see in spades today), if it determines your life, you are an idolater. And, says Jesus, it is clear that “No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Of course, the Pharisees then and now thought that he was so impractical, a dreamer, perhaps crazy. They said that about other saints as well.

So what do we see here?

Martin shows what a true bishop is: one who cares for the people, for their spiritual health, including orthodoxy, for their material and other needs as well, as best he can. No wonder that Martin and many others resisted becoming bishops.

But the bishop is the father of the Church and we children are called to grow up to become like father - that is how it is supposed to work.

Alongside father are the many members of the extended family that make it work, who do the caring. That we can all do.

One chief distraction is that of mammon, our stuff, whether material or financial or perhaps something else (our country can become an idol) - that can creep in even to religious communities. Read the various histories.

Our job together with the bishops is that of keeping the Church healthy and keeping the Church united. And if we do that in a Christ-like way, we too will receive a “well-done” even though our names may never ring out in either scripture or tradition.

That is certainly my hope.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 11-11-2023: Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

FIRST READING

Romans 16:3–9, 16, 22–27

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I am grateful but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 greet also the church at their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the firstfruits in Asia for Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent among the apostles and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

22 I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you. [24 ]

[25 Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages 26 but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.]

Catholic Daily Readings 11-11-2023: Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

RESPONSE

Psalm 145:1b

1 Praise. Of David.

I will extol you, my God and king;

I will bless your name forever and ever.

PSALM

Psalm 145:2–5, 10–11

2 Every day I will bless you;

I will praise your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD and worthy of much praise,

whose grandeur is beyond understanding.

4 One generation praises your deeds to the next

and proclaims your mighty works.

5 They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory,

tell of your wonderful deeds.

10 All your works give you thanks, LORD

and your faithful bless you.

11 They speak of the glory of your reign

and tell of your mighty works,

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

2 Corinthians 8:9

9 For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Catholic Daily Readings 11-11-2023: Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

GOSPEL

Luke 16:9–15

9 I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. 11 If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? 12 If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? 13 No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. 15 And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 11-11-2023: Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023 | MEMORIAL

SAINT MARTIN OF TOURS, BISHOP

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

From Saturday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading Romans 16:3–9, 16, 22–27

Response Psalm 145:1b

Psalm Psalm 145:2–5, 10–11

Gospel Acclamation 2 Corinthians 8:9

Gospel Luke 16:9–15

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