Feb 14th

Post date: Feb 15, 2021 4:51:21 PM

Feb 14, 2021 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

In addition to being the Lord’s Resurrection Day, today is St. Valentine’s

Day. Who was St. Valentine? He was a kind-hearted Roman priest

(or bishop) who aided young Christians being persecuted by Emperor

Claudius II. Legend says that he tried to change the way people

celebrated the pagan feast of Lupercalia in mid-February. This was a feast

of celebrating fertility and purification by drinking, parties and debauchery.

Young men would draw a girl’s name for immoral purposes. Valentine said

“No—Instead, give a girlfriend a message of Scripture and love.”

St. Valentine is the patron of love, young people, and a happy marriage.

While in custody Valentine converted the judge and the 46 members

of his household to Christianity.

Claudius was furious and sentenced him to death.

Looking at today’s Gospel, the interesting thing is not that Christ cured

the leper, but the way he cured him. Excluded and rejected

by everybody. They had to live away from everyone.

Lepers were forced to ring a bell to warn people of their approach; nobody

would come near for fear of contamination and being labeled unclean.

But Jesus was moved with compassion on seeing the leper.

He allowed the leper to approach him—then he did the unthinkable.

Jesus reached out and touched him. With this sign of welcome he repaired

the leper’s sense of worth.

Jesus accepted the leper just as he was. Each of us longs

to be accepted for what we are. It is the love and acceptance of others

that helps us know our worth and to give love and respect to others.

This is how Christ accepted the leper and how he accepts us.

This teaches us how we should reach out to others

who are suffering the pain of rejection.

We can rekindle hope in someone else and

thus, mirror dimly the infinite compassion of God.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day Everyone!