Homily for Memorial of St. John Damascene

Homily for the Memorial of
St. John Damascene

Dec. 4, 2025
Collect
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph Residence, N.R.

John of Damascus
(by Emmanouel Tzanes)

We prayed that St. John Damascene—John of Damascus—would intercede “so that the true faith … may always be our light and strength” (Collect).

John was born in Damascus ca. 675, about 40 years after the Arabs had captured the city and brought Islam to Syria.  In his father’s steps, John entered the service of the Muslim caliph there.  When he was about 30, he abandoned that career, went to Jerusalem, and became a monk, then a priest.

Within the Muslim world and at the same time against the iconoclast heresy that was roiling the Byzantine Empire, John preserved and promoted the true faith:  in writings, especially in defense of the use of sacred images, and in hymnody.  Thus he was a light for Christian orthodoxy, and as a doctor of the Church, i.e., as a holy teacher of the true faith, he remains a light.

At Advent and Christmas, we celebrate the light of God’s coming into our world darkened by sin.  John of Damascus emphasized Christ as the light of true faith, the light of God, shining upon humanity thru his human flesh, his deeds, his passion and resurrection, and his sacraments.

Now it’s our turn to show forth God’s light thru Christ living in us—in our words and deeds, inspired by images of Christ, Mary, and the saints, and empowered by the Word of God and Christ’s sacraments.