Sunday Homily - August 16, 2020 - Faithful Prayer Saves the Soul

St. Monica Icon

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

(Baptism of Logan Justus)

Isaiah 56:1,6-8

Psalm 67

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

I.

Have you ever heard of patron saints before?

If you have, who or what comes to mind when I mention patron saints?

Perhaps one of the easiest patron saints that comes to mind is St. Patrick,

 the Christian saint of Ireland,

  whose feast day is celebrated in March by a wide variety of people,

   even those who have never darkened the doors of a church. 

I always find patron saints interesting, 

 because, traditionally, patron saints are understood as advocates and intercessors

  for specific places, people, vocations, and anything else under the sun!

For example, St. Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of patron saint of the lost,

 because of his example of Christ's love for lost people.

  But he also has several legends associated with him that tell of wonder-working

   in finding lost people, lost items, and even lost pets!

    So, next time you lose the T.V. remote,

     remember to hit up St. Anthony for an intercession on your behalf!

But I want to introduce you to a very special saint in our church.

 She is the mother of one of the greatest theologians in church history, St. Augustine,

  but it is not her son that makes her a saint.

   It is her selfless sacrifice and love for her son

    that shows forth the Christ-likeness of St. Monica,

     the patron saint of all mothers. 

II.

St. Monica was a deeply spiritual woman,

 steeped in prayer with Jesus

  and the selfless nature of her care for her children

   is an example to us all today.

But perhaps the most clear example of her love

 was that for her son,

  Augustine. 

You see, when Augustine was very young,

 he became ill and it looked as if he would die.

  Monica prayed to God day and night for her son,

   begged God that he would save Augustine and make him well again.

Day and night she prayed,

 she fasted,

  she cared and lifted up her child to God.

   Any opportunity to save him, she would gladly take.

Just as the Canaanite woman in today's Gospel cried to Jesus

 to save her daughter and heal her from demonic possession,

  so also St. Monica cried out to Jesus that he would save her son

   and restore him to life. 

And God heard her prayer,

 and healed Augustine.

  She was overjoyed that her son was given back to her,

   healed and whole. 

The faith of St. Monica on behalf of her infant son Augustine

 saved him from an early death.

  But it would not be the last time that the faith of St. Monica

   would be effectual in working the grace of God in Augustine's life.

You see,

 Augustine grew up to be quite the problem child.

  And this was very hard on Monica.

Augustine was a very intelligent boy even from early childhood,

 but he also was caught up in so many things that were harmful to his soul

  that Monica, again, prayed constantly for the conversion of her son

   and for him to be baptized to receive the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.

She would pray for many years.

 But one day, all of her intercession would finally be consummated

  in Augustine being baptized by Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan.

   And, with her son handed on the gift of faith by her own faith in Christ,

    Monica died only a few short days after.

   

Augustine would write over his retrospective of his mother Monica

 in the world-famous work of literature The Confessions.

  In the Confessions, Monica plays a huge role in so many of Augustine's life circumstances,

   and he extols her prayer for him that eventually saved his soul.

    

But all the while,

 the reason why St. Monica is the patron saint of mothers

  is because the love she had for Augustine

   was a reflection of the love that Jesus has for all who walk this green earth,

    from the youngest to the oldest.

III.

And this morning, we have a joyous occasion to give thanks for

 in a similar way that Monica rejoiced for Augustine.

  We have Logan Justus to welcome into Christ's Body, the Church,

    through the gracious Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

Just as Jesus said,

 "Let the little children come to me,"

  so also we, God's children,

   welcome a new child of God into the blessed company of all the saints!

And just as St. Monica's faith and prayer so permeated Augustine's life,

 so also both Logan's biological family and Logan's church family pledge this morning

  that our faith and prayer for Logan should so permeated Logan's life

   that he, like Augustine, will be brought up in a loving family

    in the knowledge and love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

For all of us here who are mothers and fathers,

 remember St. Monica and the selfless love that she had for her son.

  Because it is a glimpse of the unchangeable and unfailing love of God

   for all of God's children as well. 

And go forth in that same baptismal love of Jesus Christ,

 who came and by his death overcame death itself,

  and raises us to eternal life through our Baptism. 

As we welcome Logan as a new creation in Christ,

 so also reach out your hands in love to those who do not know Christ yet.

And pray, pray constantly for one another.

 Because you never know what the faithful prayer on behalf of another

  may end up doing for the kingdom of God.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.