Untitled Homily (9)Memorial of Saint Cornelius, Pope and Martyr, and Saint Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr

Memorial of Saint Cornelius, Pope and Martyr, and Saint Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr

Story:

Father you are not holy, but why because you smile at Mass. Holy people do not smile. If you observe in many churches you will never see a smiling statue.

1. What Is Holiness?

To be holy means to be set apart for God, to belong to Him. Just as a chalice or vessel is consecrated for a sacred purpose, so too are we called to be set apart for God's service. Holiness involves a deliberate choice to separate ourselves from the ways of the world in order to fully belong to God.

One of the common things I have learned from many saints is that when they decided to follow Christ, it was the moment they decided to separate themselves from the world. They decided to belong to God.

2. Belonging to God while living in the world.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses the phrase “belong to” four times. He says, “They do not belong to the world,” highlighting the distinction between those who follow Him and the secular world around them.

Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Cornelius, Pope and Martyr, and Saint Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr. These holy men dedicated their lives to serving God in the face of great adversity. Their lives provide a powerful witness to what it means to belong to the Lord and not the world.

Both Cornelius and Cyprian exemplified this choice throughout their lives. Cornelius defended the unity of the Church amid persecution, and Cyprian upheld the Church’s teachings and unity even in the face of internal and external challenges.

3. Our Call to Holiness

We are also called to belong to God. It’s easy to say we want to follow Christ, but it takes courage and determination to truly belong to God. To be a saint means to embrace a life that loves God's things and rejects the world's superficial values.

If we decide today to pursue holiness, we must first choose to belong to God. It’s not an easy path; we live in a world full of distractions and temptations. But remember, we are not alone in this journey.

4. Seeking Divine Help

Jesus understands how challenging it is to navigate this world while remaining committed to Him. That is why He is always ready to offer us His help and support.

As we honor Saints Cornelius and Cyprian today, let their steadfast commitment to belonging to God inspire and strengthen to live a life of totally belong to the Lord.

May we strive to be set apart for God in all we do, so that one day we might be recognized as saints ourselves.