THE WORD AND THE SAINTS

We are fruits of these good trees

Celebrating Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian - 16th September, 2017

1 Tim 1:15-17; Lk 6: 43-49

We have two saints whom we celebrate today - one a Pope-Martyr, Cornelius and the other a Bishop-Martyr, Cyprian. We have three reasons to thank God today for these saints. First of all for the testimony of their martyrdom - that they lived for the Lord and died for the Lord. Second for their insistence on the Oneness of the Church - Cornelius was the first Pope to fight against a schism in the Church already in the year 251 and Cyprian wrote those beautiful lines, 'God is one and Christ is one, and his Church is one.' Thirdly, they were people who guarded the Church against the viles of the enemy - Cornelius fought against the first anti-pope in the history of the Church and Cyprian taught extensively the doctrine strengthening the faithful against straying from the truth. 

They lived, worked, suffered and died for Christ - they have left behind a great legacy as did the apostles. We are fruits of these good trees. Do we have the same good and faithfulness in us? We are called to stand of the Truth of the Lord, the Lord's people and the Lord's way of life, amidst the cries of confusion and compromise today.