St. Sebastian: Daily Mass Homily--Tuesday, January 20th, 2015 (St. Sebastian)

(Listen to this homily here).

            St. Sebastian lived in the third century during the time of the Diocletian persecutions.  He was a soldier in the Roman army and an impressive individual.  Legend has it that he was strong, attractive and courageous. 

            He lived a life that inspired others, even to conversion to Christ.  As Christianity was illegal under Diocletian’s reign, the emperor wasn’t thrilled that his own soldiers were being converted.  Sebastian was arrested and set to be executed with arrows.  He was shot several times and left for dead—but he survived!

            Now at this point, if I was Sebastian, I would have gotten out of dodge quickly.  But as inspiring as this saint’s courage and strength here to this point, he went above and beyond for his Lord.  As the story goes, he knew the emperor’s route through the city and hid in an alley until the emperor passed by.  When he did, Sebastian stepped out, denounced him for his cruelty to Christians and attempted to convert even him!  For this noble cause, Sebastian was martyred.

            I brought with me this morning some items of devotion to share, as St. Sebastian is my patron saint.  First, the statue was sort of a gift.  Fr. Rich (my friend and first pastor as a priest) and I were in Rome and I was struck by this beautiful piece—until I saw the price tag.  Fr. Rich asked how much I would be willing to pay to buy it, then put enough Euros on the counter to cover it—and this was not a small amount.  I am grateful for this gift.

            You can also see a small candle and stone.  Both of these came from San Sebastiano’s in Rome.  This basilica houses the remains of St. Sebastian and even held St. Peter and St. Paul for a time.  It is built over a crypt which is accessible to visit.  The stone comes from this crypt and I had lit this candle at St. Sebastian’s tomb when I last visited.

            Finally, the small reliquary on display contains a relic of St. Sebastian.  This, too, was a gift from Fr. Rich for my ordination to the priesthood.  It is a true blessing to have and has increased my devotion to my patron.

            St. Sebastian is the patron of athletes (which is why I chose him in high school), soldiers and archers.  He models the virtue of courage in the face of persecution—a virtue in which we all need to foster today.  He shows us the heroic witness of love for Jesus, a love which helped him offer his life for the faith.

            St. Sebastian, pray for us!