Word to the Wise
Thursday, November 3, 2011 - Nov. 3 - St. Martin de Porres, religious
[Phil 4:4-9 and Luke 15:1-3, 11-32]The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." [Luke]
The complaint of the Pharisees about Jesus' refusal to discriminate in regard to those with whom he ate (he ate with Pharisees, too!) would definitely apply to St. Martin de Porres! St. Martin was known for greeting and accepting and feeding anyone who came to the door of the priory in Lima, Peru, where he was doorkeeper. He slept in a broom closet under a stair case, and his statues usually show him with a broom! Legend says that he even fed the mice so they would stay out of the house, and so his statues also occasionally show him with mice at his feet. He was the illegitimate son of a Spanish soldier and former slave woman. His father had him trained as a barber, which also meant he was trained to be a kind of surgeon! At age 15 he entered the Dominican priory in Lima, Peru, where his social status prevented his being ordained a priest and, for awhile, prevented his full acceptance in the Order, due to discrimination! He gradually developed his front door ministry to the point that he was renowned in his own time in Lima for his charity to all, regardless of social standing or wealth. His refusal to discriminate and his generosity to the poor and outcast has earned him the title of patron saint of those who work for social justice! He is the patron of the Southern Dominican Province, to which I belong.
As a child living in North Louisiana in the period before the Civil Rights legislation of the 1960's I was aware of the racial discrimination of the time. I remember seeing statues of Martin de Porres in African-American churches, both Catholic and Protestant in my area! Although much has occurred to remove barriers of discrimination, they still exist and we have a long way to go yet before we match the standards that Jesus and St. Martin de Porres have provided. At the root of it all is fear, and as long as we fear someone we cannot love them. Legislation has removed some of the gross instruments used by fear, but has not removed the fear itself. On this feast of St. Martin de Porres, we can pray for the courage to overcome these fears and join Jesus and Martin at the table with all our brothers and sisters. AMEN