Acts 13:46-49; Psalm 117; Luke 10:1-9
Today the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Cyril and St. Methodius. St. Cyril was a priest and a philosopher he accompanied his brother St. Methodius to Moravia to preach the Gospel. These men caught the fire, exercised it and transmitted it. Beloved, evangelization is never an easy task and so Jesus had to prepare the minds of the Seventy-two disciples before sending them out to preach. According to the previous liturgical calendar (1962), the feast of Cyril and Methodius is celebrated on July 7; while today 14th marks the commemoration of St. Valentine.
St. Valentine, a priest and martyr of Rome in about 270 is said to have restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer. To whom he wrote a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell before his execution. However, numerous later additions related it to the theme of love/marriage. Overtime, it became more of a romantic celebration than a liturgical celebration. The Church had to deemphasize his celebration in the liturgy because of the lack of reliable information about him. He is the patron saint of lovers, epileptics, and beekeepers. What suppose to be the celebration of love is trending under many appearances today and instead showing love; many are making love. Beloved, like the Paul and Barnabas in the first reading and the saints of today we are missionaries of Christ; let us represent the truth wherever we are; let us restore humanity from lust and immorality.
LET US PRAY
O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching, and perfect us as a people of one accord in true faith and right confession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
