Homily, June 1, 2022, Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

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 “And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated”. This is Jesus’ prayer for His disciples, and His prayer for us who believe in Him.

What does it mean to be consecrated?

It means to be set aside for holiness, to be anointed for God’s purpose, to be devoted totally to God.

Jesus consecrated Himself for the disciples and for us. And by that, we too may be consecrated to God, to be set aside for God’s purpose of salvation, mercy and love.

In the book of Genesis chapter 28, Jacob anointed a stone with oil, dedicated that place to God and named it Bethel. Thus, Bethel became part of salvation history. Samuel anointed David and the little shepherd boy became the king of Israel. Jesus consecrated His disciples, anointed them with the Holy Spirit and these simple fishermen became powerful fishers of men.

Consecration empowers and transforms. It gives new purpose, new identity, new mission to the consecrated.

Once, I attended a Cistercian ordination rite. The newly ordained monk turned to four directions: north, south, west and east, to say goodbye to the world. The symbolism is deep and meaningful. He no longer belonged to the world, and the world no longer belonged to him. His being ordained set him aside totally for God’s purpose. From then on, he will live for God only.

We too, were anointed with the sacred chrism oil on the day of our baptism. We became adopted sons and daughters of God, set us aside from the world to live for God. We no longer belong to the world. We belong to Jesus, for His mission, for our salvation and the salvation of all.

Are we conscious of this beautiful truth? Do we think about this purpose of our being? Do we let the world influence us into materialistic, anxious, selfish people or do we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us into completed image and likeness of God?

St. Paul also prayed for the Ephesian Church, “And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated”.

May we too receive the same inheritance prepared for the consecrated people of God. Amen.

Fr. Nivin Scaria 


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