A Sermon by St. Bernadine of Siena, priest
From a sermon by Saint Bernadine
St. Bernadine of Siena |
The
name of Jesus is the glory of preachers
The name of Jesus is the glory of preachers, because the shining
splendor of that name causes his word to be proclaimed and heard. And how do you think such an immense, sudden
and dazzling light of faith came into the world, if not because Jesus was
preached? Was it not through the
brilliance and sweet savor of this name that God called us into his marvelous light? When we have been enlightened, and in that
same light behold the light of heaven, rightly may the apostle Paul say to us: Once you were in darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord; walk as children of light.
So this name must be proclaimed,
that it may shine out and never be suppressed.
But it must not be preached by someone with sullied mind or unclean
lips, but stored up and poured out from a chosen vessel.
That is why our Lord said of
Saint Paul: He is a chosen instrument of mine, the vessel of my choice, to carry my
name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel. In this chosen vessel there was to be a drink
more pleasing than earth ever knew, offered to all mankind for a price they
could pay, so that they would be drawn to taste of it. Poured into other chosen vessels, it would
grow and radiate splendor. For our Lord
said: He is to carry my name.
When a fire is lit to clear a
field, it burns off all the dry and useless weeds and thorns. When the sun rises and darkness is dispelled,
robbers, night-prowlers and burglars hide away.
So when Paul’s voice was raised to preach the Gospel to the nations,
like a great clap of thunder in the sky, his preaching was a blazing fire
carrying all before it. It was the sun
rising in full glory. Infidelity was
consumed by it, false beliefs fled away, and the truth appeared like a great
candle lighting the whole world with its brilliant flame.
By word of mouth, by letters, by
miracles and by the example of his own life, Saint Paul bore the name of Jesus
wherever he went. He praised the name of
Jesus at all times, but never more
than when bearing witness to his faith.
Moreover, the Apostle did indeed
carry this name before the Gentiles and
kings and the sons of Israel as a light to enlighten all nations. And this was his cry wherever he
journeyed: The night is passing away, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and
put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves honorably as in the day. Paul himself showed forth the burning and
shining-light set upon a candlestick, everywhere proclaiming Jesus, and him
crucified.
And so the Church, the bride of
Christ strengthened by his testimony, rejoices with the psalmist, singing: O
God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. The psalmist exhorts her to do this, as he
says: Sing to the Lord, and bless his name, proclaim his salvation day after
day. And this salvation is Jesus,
her savior.
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