The story of St. Martin is simple yet profound. Martin was a young soldier when one cold day, he encountered a beggar shivering in the street. Moved with compassion, he took his sword, cut his own cloak in half, and gave it to the man. That night, Martin dreamed of Jesus dressed in the half-cloak, saying to the angels, “See, Martin, though he is but a catechumen, has clothed me with his own cloak.”
This story reflects directly on today’s Gospel, where Jesus describes the final judgment, separating those who acted with compassion from those who did not. He tells his disciples that when they show love, mercy, and kindness to others—feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked—they are serving Him.
In giving his cloak to the poor, cold, destitute beggar, Martin was clothing Christ, and Martin’s dream that night confirms it.
Veteran’s Day adds another dimension to our reflection. St. Martin was a veteran. And we are grateful today for those veterans, who like Martin, sacrificed and served others, often enduring hardship and risk to protect those they loved, and even strangers they would never meet. Their courage and their sacrifices are acts of service, and on this day, we honor them with gratitude.
Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel urge us to live this spirit of service and compassion every day. They invite us to consider: Do we see Christ in the people around us? Do we act on His call to serve the “least” among us—the poor, the sick, the lonely, the stranger?
Let us pray today for the grace to serve others with the same humility and love as St. Martin, and may we honor those who serve by following in their footsteps, bringing compassion and dignity to all, recognizing in each face the face of Christ our Lord for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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That the nations of the world will seek to work together in harmony and peace; we pray to the Lord:
That our homeland will be preserved from violence and terrorism; we pray to the Lord
In gratitude for the service of our veterans; for blessings upon them, and for all veterans who suffer the physical and psychological effects of war. May we prudently and wisely use and guard the freedoms for which our veterans labored and suffered.
For all veterans experiencing physical or psychological, that they may know God’s healing and strength, and that all veterans may be blessed for their self-sacrifice.
For all veterans who gave their life for our liberty, and for the repose of the souls of all of our beloved dead, family, friends, those whose names are written in our parish necrology, deceased priests and religious, for all the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.
God, Almighty Father, creator of mankind and author of peace, as we are ever mindful of the cost paid for the liberty we possess, help us to use that liberty to promote peace and justice and spread saving Gospel of Christ. Through the same Christ Our Lord.
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