ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Dear brother Bishops and Priests, Dear Deacons, men and women Religious,Dear Brothers and Sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,

One of the songs familiar to the African American community begins with the words, "Come and go with me to my Father’s House where there’s joy!" Those words come to mind today as we gather in this great basilica, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Indeed, there is joy in this House today. In spite of all of the challenges and burdens of life, we still find joy — deep joy, great joy. This is one of the many gifts that African Americans bring to our Church. You, dear Friends, are a joyful people and the whole Church needs that joy today!

We are especially joyful in the fact that forty-four years ago, precisely May 6, 1962, Pope John XXIII, now Blessed John XXIII, canonized Martin de Porres a saint of the Church. As a young priest studying in Rome, I was there for that great event. In his homily that day, the Pope said, "The example of Martin’s life is ample evidence that we can strive for holiness and salvation as Christ Jesus has shown us: first by loving God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind; and second, by loving your neighbor as yourself."

God does not need saints, God needs nothing, for God is infinitely blessed in Himself. Yet, the Church raises up men and women outstanding in holiness, people like Saint Martin de Porres, to inspire us and to help us grow in holiness. Yes, we need the saints! How many people in our Church have been drawn to Saint Martin de Porres, especially those of African descent and of Hispanic decent. Images like the one we see today in this sanctuary inspire us in our efforts to be holy.

In the Gospel for Mass today on this 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, we hear that a scribe comes to Jesus and asks Him what is the greatest commandment. He does this to test Jesus in His knowledge of one of the most sacred passages in the Old Testament, the great teaching given by Moses. We heard this in our first reading from Deuteronomy, "Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength."

But interestingly Jesus adds a second commandment. He says "The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus adds this second commandment, because the two are really inseparable. We cannot say that we love God with all our being and not strive to love each other. This is what it truly means to be a Christian. We must not just talk like Jesus, we must act like Jesus.

Recently, we have seen and heard of so many acts of violence in our City, but also in our surrounding communities and indeed throughout the world. These incidents sadden us and we often ask what can we do to promote peace and end violence. But really peace and love begin by the way we think, speak and act towards our family, co-workers and neighbors.

Why should we love? Why should we promote peace? The reason why we love is precisely because we have been loved by God. "For God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son" (John 3:16). Because God has loved us so perfectly, so powerfully in Christ Jesus, we must in turn love each other. Saint Martin de Porres understood that and lived that teaching to perfection. He lived it humbly, generously and with immense dedication. In his humility he impressed the whole world.

It is not easy to love. As we study the life of Saint Martin de Porres, we know the many challenges he faced. Yet, by loving God and his neighbor so well, he now sees God face to face and enjoys light, happiness and peace.

Perhaps, more that ever, we need Saint Martin de Porres to pray for us. May he intercede for us that we may keep on loving and serving until we all get to heaven and enjoy perfect joy forever. Amen.