January 13 2020 - St. Hilary - Fishers of Men

On this first weekday of the new season of Ordinary Time, we honor one of the great Fathers of the Church, St. Hilary, a bishop of the fourth century. 

As the Arian heresy spread rapidly through Europe, St. Hilary was devoted to defending and spreading the Catholic faith, which upheld the divinity of Christ, which the Arians denied. Bishop Hilary was ostracized by his brother bishops who accepted Arianism; he was even exiled from France to Turkey by the emperor for preaching the truth.  Yet, even from exile, he worked strenuously to bring the heretics back to the truth.  When he returned from exile, his people welcomed him back enthusiastically. 

Today in the Gospel, we heard Jesus tell Peter and Andrew, “I will make you fishers of men.”  St. Hilary and the great saints show us what the Lord meant.  We, like the Saints, are to work to bring others to the truth about Jesus Christ—the fullness of truth revealed to and handed down from the apostles.

St. John Paul II would often challenge young people: “ask yourselves if you truly believe that Jesus is Lord.”  Because if you truly believe this, that Jesus is God, and that he teaches with the authority of God, then you must change your life, your life must give witness to this truth.  We must have the courage to witness in some way to those we meet today that Jesus is Lord, that he is God, that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

I can’t think of a better saint with whom to begin Ordinary Time: for like St. Hilary, we are to be fishers of men. Our witness that Jesus is God, that Jesus is Lord is to permeate our ordinary lives, our ordinary day-to-day activity. 

In the opening prayer, we asked, “O God, grant that we may rightly understand and truthfully profess the divinity of your Son, which the Bishop Saint Hilary taught with such constancy”.  Likely, so many of our fellow Catholics who are not coming to Church have not allowed the implications of the divinity of Jesus to penetrate their lives. So let us seek right understanding that we might truthfully profess with St. Hilary and all the saints, that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.
That the Holy Father and the bishops may be always faithful in defending the Church from heresy and working for the spread of the true faith.
For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of January: that Christians, followers of other religions, and all people of goodwill may promote peace and justice in the world.
For all Catholics who have fallen away from the faith, into heresy, schism or indifference, for all unbelievers, and the conversion of all.
That young people may seek Christ amidst all the chaos and distraction of modern culture.
For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, for those undergoing surgery this week,  that they may find relief in both mind and body.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.