Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint Francis de Sales, a Bishop and Doctor of the Church, known for his remarkable life of devotion, compassion, and evangelization. Born in 1567 in Savoy, France, Francis de Sales was a gifted scholar, theologian, and pastor who dedicated his life to spreading the message of God's love and mercy.
As we reflect on the readings of the day, we are reminded of the role of Jesus as the one mediator between God and humanity. In the Letter to the Hebrews, we read that "our high priest has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises" (Hebrews 8:6). Jesus, as the mediator of the new covenant, establishes a new and eternal bond between God and humanity, one that is rooted in love, forgiveness, and mercy.
In the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus appointing the Twelve Apostles, giving them the authority to preach, to drive out demons, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and heal the sick (Mark 3:13-19). By doing so, Jesus makes the Apostles, and through them, all of us, partakers in his mediation. Only Jesus could do all those things, but he extends that power through his ministers. For example, only Jesus can forgive sin, and yet post-resurrection he gave the Apostles the Holy Spirit to be able to do the same. Something he alone has the power to do, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, he allows us to participate in secondarily. We need to understand this concept to counter the opposition we receive from many as regards the Sacraments. We are called to participate in the one mediatorship of Jesus, to be ambassadors of Christ, and to spread the message of God's love and salvation to all nations, taking Jesus as not only our guide and model, but the source of any healing that may come through our ministry and evangelization.
As baptized Christians, we are incorporated into the Body of Christ, and we become part of the new covenant that Jesus established. We are called to be instruments of God's love and mercy, to be channels of his forgiveness and healing. Whenever we ask someone else to pray for us, we are asking that person indirectly to become a mediator between us and Jesus, or the Father, or any saint for example. Even an angel can be a secondary intercessor before God who partakes in the one mediation of Jesus. We can ask our angel to say a good word for us with God. And notice I said “ask,” not “command.” We interact with our guardian angel with reverence and humility, for this being beyond our imagination, is continually beholding the
face of Almighty God, and is happy to be our companion through life. Always speak to your angel with utmost respect and humility. He is happy to intercede, mediate, on your behalf.
Saint Francis de Sales teaches us that our participation in Jesus' mediation involves a life of prayer, devotion, and service. He reminds us that we are all called to be contemplatives in action, to cultivate a deep interior life, and to express our love for God through our love for others. By living a life of charity, humility, and simplicity, we become more like Jesus, and we participate more fully in his mediation.
In his book, "Introduction to the Devout Life," Saint Francis de Sales writes, "The greatest kindness one can render to God is to live and act in a manner that is pleasing to him." He invites us to live a life of intentional discipleship, to seek God's will in all things, and to trust in his providence. By doing so, we become more effective mediators of God's love, and we help to build a more just and compassionate world.
May we be inspired by the life and writings of Saint Francis de Sales, and may we become more like Jesus, the one mediator between God and humanity. Amen.
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