Homily for January 12, 2025
Baptism of Our Lord
Call to Holiness by Living Our Vocation
Many
saint stories feature miracles and marvels, but there are some saints whose
lives are just plain ordinary. St. Isidore the Farmer is one such saint. A
twelfth-century man from Madrid, Spain, he was an ordinary farmhand who worked
for a wealthy landowner. Despite his poverty, he was always generous and would
share what little he had with the poor. He was married, and by all accounts,
was an exemplary husband and father. He made sure that Christ was the center of
his day – he began with daily Mass, and would frequently interrupt his farm
chores for prayer. One time, a fellow worker, who was jealous of how well
Isidore was respected, told the landowner that Isidore only went to Mass
because he was lazy and wanted to shirk his duties. The next day, out of curiosity,
the landowner went out to the field during the time of the Mass, and found that
angels were plowing his field until Isidore returned from his prayer. Okay,
well, I guess even an ordinary saint had at least a few miracles…
But I
start with the story of an ordinary saint, because that is precisely what we
are all called to be – ordinary saints. As Mother Teresa said, “Holiness is not
the luxury of a few, but the simple duty of you and me.” We reflect on baptism
this weekend – not only Jesus’ baptism, but ours too. And baptism laid upon us
a duty – the duty to strive for holiness.
This
calling is universal – for everyone, in every state of life. A priest one time
had been inviting a certain parishioner to a bible study, but the man kept
pushing him off: “No, no, I’m too busy, I can’t make it,” and all sorts of
excuses. Finally, frustrated that the priest was persistent, the man exclaimed,
“Look, Father, I’m just not that into this whole faith thing.” Perhaps that’s
where some of you are – just “not all into” this whole following Jesus thing.
But I am
here to tell you that the days of lukewarm Catholicism are over. No longer is
it enough to just go to church and say a few prayers – we must strive for
holiness. In fact, it was the Second Vatican Council who articulated most
clearly the “universal call to holiness”. Listen to this quote from one of its
documents: “All the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called
to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity.” (LG 5)
And again: “The forms and tasks of life are many but [the call to] holiness is
one—that sanctity which is cultivated by all who act under God's Spirit and…
follow Christ, poor, humble and cross-bearing, that they may deserve to be
partakers of his glory.” (LG 41) If you’ve been baptized, you are supposed to
become a saint!
Holiness
is simply the perfection of charity: loving God above all things, and loving
our neighbor as Christ loves them. It is Christ who makes holiness abide within
us – we love God because He loved us first and adopted us to be His sons and
daughters; we love our neighbors because Christ, living in us, gives us the
grace to do so.
We find
this holiness by living out our vocations. We heard about John the Baptist
today, but do you remember back in Advent another Gospel regarding him? On the
Third Sunday of Advent, we heard about tax collectors and soldiers coming to
John the Baptist. They ask him, “What should we do?” Does John the Baptist tell
them to run away to the desert and become hermits? Does he tell them to pray
all day? No. He tells them to fulfill their vocation perfectly. To the tax
collectors he said, “Don’t take more than what is required.” To the soldiers he
said, “Do not extort anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” In other words,
be who you are, but be it for God – and you will become holy.
Your
vocation gives a direction to love. If you are married, you must first
love your spouse and kids above all else. I am called to love the people of St.
Jude’s above all else (and forgive me for the times I have fallen short!). If
you are single, your vocation is to use your time to serve – the poor, your
community, your family. It is not holiness to have misdirected love.
About ten years ago I made a long walking pilgrimage across northern Spain
called El Camino di Santiago de Compostela. It was thirty-three days of
traipsing across the Pyrenees and deserts of Spain to reach the bones of St.
James the Apostle at Santiago di Compostela. One of the best parts was meeting
people from across the world and hearing their stories. For the final ten days
of the trek, we walked with a man from Italy named Michele (Michael) who had an
amazing story. His three-year-old son was sick with a deadly disease of the
liver, and he needed a transplant. He prayed and prayed, and things weren’t
looking good, but right at the last minute a donor came through and his son was
saved. In thanksgiving to God for this miracle, he decided to undertake this
pilgrimage – but he walked all the way from Italy, just out his front door and
over the Alps! He had been on the trail for almost six months! It was
tremendously inspiring to see his devotion to God and his love for his son.
However,
when we reached Santiago di Compostela, after resting for a couple days, we
were about to catch a flight home – and Michele told us that he was going to
walk back to Italy! Another six months on the path. But we sat him down and had
an honest conversation with him – “Michele, you now have to go home and be a
father to your son. Do not walk back – take a train or a plane. Your son needs
you. You are called to be his father – do not shirk this duty!” Reluctantly he
agreed, and he returned to his son. As good as it is to make a pilgrimage for
God, his first responsibility was to be there for his son, and that’s how he
will find holiness.
Holiness
looks different for everyone. St. Cyril of Jerusalem uses the example of water
and agriculture – water is the same everywhere, but it produces different
fruit: grapes on the vine, apples on the tree, tomatoes on the plant. Likewise,
the grace of Christ dwelling in the soul is holiness, but it looks different
for everyone.
For
example, if you are a lawyer, truly care for your clients and do not be
motivated by greed but by justice. If you are a teacher, love your students and
do not speak badly of administration. If you are in business, care for your
fellow employees and seek to serve customers, living honestly and uprightly. If
you are parent, encourage holiness in your kids, sacrificing for them and
speaking to them about Christ. If you are a young person still in school, study
well for the glory of God, obey your parents and teachers, and treat your
classmates as Christ would. Do all this with a deep prayer life, living in
intimate union with God.
It may
not seem dramatic, it may seem ordinary – but that’s precisely how holiness
becomes real. Most of us have seen the Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful
Life”. One of my all-time favorites, in part because it gives a message
completely opposite of most modern-day movies. Modern-day movies often say,
“Follow your dreams! Live your best life! Find yourself!” The classic “It’s a
Wonderful Life” preaches, “Do your duty, serve others, and in this you will
find a truly wonderful life.” Don’t pursue your dreams – pursue your vocation,
which is God’s dreams for you, and you will find happiness… and holiness.
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