Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest

Lk 6:6-11

Story of a friend seminarian:

A friend once shared a story from seminary about his pastor. They went out to evangelize, but instead of preaching, they just walked through the marketplace, greeting people and stopping by stores. When they got home, the seminarian asked why they hadn’t talked about God. The pastor replied, “Sometimes evangelization doesn’t need words. Our actions can speak louder than our words.”

Saint Peter Claver("We must speak to them with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips.)

was a remarkable figure, a Jesuit missionary who made a profound impact in 17th-century Cartagena, Colombia. Arriving in the city in 1610, he dedicated his life to aiding the enslaved Africans who were brutalized by the transatlantic slave trade. Claver boarded slave ships to provide food, medicine, and comfort, often facing hostility and extreme conditions.

He famously said, "We must speak to them with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips," emphasizing his belief in action over words. Over his 38-year ministry, he cared for thousands of enslaved people, embodying faith through relentless compassion.

Related to Gospel today.

Saint Peter Claver’s life of evangelization profoundly reflects today’s Gospel message. In the passage, Jesus teaches that acts of kindness—like feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick—are vital expressions of evangelization. Compassionate action aligns with this teaching, showing that true evangelization is about serving others and embodying Christ’s love through actions and kindness.

Peter Claver was canonized not for his words but for his actions and the way he lived out his faith which followed what Jesus said. 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine you did for me.'"

May we also preach the Gospel through our lives and actions, serving Christ in others.

May God bless us all.