Feast of St Martin of Tours.

"Hitherto I have served you as a soldier; allow me now to become a soldier to God. ..." (St Martin of Tours).

"[Chosen Lady:] I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father.

"But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another. For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk.

"Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the antichrist.

"Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense. Anyone who is so “progressive” as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son." (2 John 4 - 9).

Friday 11th November 2022 of the 32nd week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Martin of Tours. (316 - 397).  St Martin was born of pagan parents in modern day Hungary.

Martin was a soldier in the imperial army of Rome. After he encountered Jesus Christ, he became a Christian and a man of peace. Today is also Veteran Day in the USA, Armistice Day in other countries. November 11  served in the past as a day of memorial of signing peace treaties.  The treaty to end World War 1 was signed on the Feast of St Martin of Tours, November 11th. Hail Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace. Happy Veterans Day!

The lectionary readings for Daily and Sunday Mass contain strong language condemning false teachers. We read in today's first Reading:
"Anyone who is so “progressive” as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son." (Cf 2 John 4 - 9).

The great teachers of the Christian faith are unsparing in their total condemnation of peddlars of falsehood and doctrines. Who are these teachers? Jesus, Peter and Paul, James and John.

Why does it seem that there is this deadly and embarrassing silence today in confronting false teachers inside and outside the Church?

St Hilary of Poitiers, great friend and protégé of St Martin of Tours was happy to suffer multiple exiles to defend the doctrine of faith on Christ from Arian heretics and emperors. Other saints who were persecuted and exiled are Athanasius, John Chrysostom and Pope St Martin I.

Ecumenism is great. But let us be discerning that ecumenism does not lead us to easy Christianity of Live and Let Live.

St Martin de Tours can help us appreciate the truth that God's gracious and mysterious will is our peace and prosperity.  Lust for power and greed for riches lead nations to war. Consider the end of these nations: The France of Napoleon, the Germany of Hitler, the liquidation of the Soviet Union of Stalin. The Prince of Peace warns that those who live by the sword will perish by the sword. (Cf Matthew 26: 52).

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