Blessed Be God

Homily for Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

St. Paul is remarkably self-aware in the opening verses of his first letter to St. Timothy. Yesterday, we heard him say about himself: “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated.” Today, he adds to that picture by telling us that he views himself as the foremost of sinners which has resulted in his receiving great mercy and, thereby, reveal God’s patience with him. By coincidence, God’s grace of repentance figures quite prominently in the life of Saints Cyprian and Cornelius, two of the saints that are mentioned in the Roman Canon, more popularly known as Eucharistic prayer #1.

These two men, one a Pope and the other a bishop, lived during the time of great persecution of Christians under the Emperor Decius. While many people laid down their lives for the sake of their faith, there were also those who complied with the emperor and forsook their faith. They were called apostates. At the time, a large segment of the hierarchy, both bishops and priests, held the belief that apostates could not be forgiven and readmitted to the church.

The papacy of Pope Cornelius was challenged by Novation, a priest who led the group of people who believed that apostates could not be forgiven. He challenged the position of Pope Cornelius and was elected by his followers as the rightful Pope, known today as an anti-Pope. This became such a problem for Pope Cornelius that he called a council of bishops together to resolve the issue. The bishops reaffirmed the position of Pope Cornelius and condemned Novation. Shortly thereafter, Cornelius himself was denounced by the Roman Emperor and put to death.

Cyprian, the bishop of Carthage in North Africa, was a friend and supporter of Cornelius at this time. Cyprian was born in Carthage about 210, the son of pagan parents. Cyprian lived a virtuous life after being converted to Christianity as an adult. He was made a priest and then a bishop.

As bishop of Carthage for nearly 10 years, Cyprian had only one year of peace. After that, the persecutions under Decius began, as well as disagreements over what to do with apostates. Like Cornelius, Cyprian had to deal with Novatian. New persecutions broke out under Emperor Valerian. Cyprian was arrested and tried for being a Christian. When he was read his death sentence, he exclaimed “Blessed be God!” He was martyred in 258 A.D.

As we listen to St. Paul today, we give thanks for God’s mercy. As we listen to the Gospel, we hear Jesus compare a man of faith as one who has built his house on rock. Surely Saints Cornelius and Cyprian fit into this description as men whose lives bore good fruit. We also give thanks for their witness today as we celebrate the Eucharist, the great sacrament of reconciliation brought about by the new covenant which is grounded in the sacrificial death of Jesus. As he hung on the cross, St. Luke’s Gospel records that Jesus even forgave those who crucified him for they knew not what they were doing.

When St. Cyprian was tried as a Christian and received the death sentence, he exclaimed: “Blessed be God!” As we will pray at the beginning of the Eucharistic prayer, we echo those sentiments as we pray: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”