Location: San Martin de Porres Church
On this joyful occasion of the 60th anniversary of your parish, dedicated to Saint Martin de Porres, we remember the legacy of a humble and holy man who lived out his faith in profound and tangible ways, embracing the mystery of the Incarnation and sharing deeply in Christ’s priesthood by virtue of his baptism. Saint Martin de Porres’ life was a testament to loving with his whole heart, offering himself in service to others in quiet, compassionate ways.
In today’s first reading from Deuteronomy, we hear the words of the “Shema Israel”, calling us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength. This foundational command to Israel teaches us that our relationship with God is to be complete and all-encompassing. Saint Martin de Porres, like the People of Israel, lived out this commandment in a way that demanded his whole being.
Israel identified with the One God, embracing a faith that shunned idols, staying focused on the One who loved them first. This same love also drove your patron saint to serve others in the most humble ways, showing that true devotion to God cannot exist without the service of one’s neighbor.
Pope Francis reminds us: “It is only by starting from the heart that our communities will succeed in uniting and reconciling differing minds and wills, so that the Spirit can guide us in unity as brothers and sisters. Reconciliation and peace are also born of the heart. The heart of Christ is “ecstasy”, openness, gift and encounter. In that heart, we learn to relate to one another in wholesome and happy ways, and to build up in this world God’s kingdom of love and justice. Our hearts, united with the heart of Christ, are capable of working this social miracle.” It is through this heart of Christ, our eternal High Priest, that our lives find meaning, our wounds find healing, and our relationships find purpose.
Saint Martin de Porres, as a model of this Christ-like love, lived his life in simplicity and joy, embodying the love of Jesus, our great High Priest, who sacrificed everything on the Cross. Just as Christ’s priesthood endures eternally, so does the love Saint Martin de Porres showed – his quiet witness continues to inspire us. As we honor sixty years of faith, may we strive to carry forward his legacy, sharing in Jesus’ priesthood by serving our neighbor, letting our hearts, united with Christ, work the “social miracle” of love, peace, and justice.
May Our Lady of Guadalupe teach us to love with he heart of Jesus.
