We celebrate some very interesting saints in our calendar of saints. Born of Spanish peasants in 1502, Sebastian of Aparicio worked as a shepherd as a child and a hired field worker as a young man. He travelled to Puebla, Mexico at age 31 in the early years of the explorers where he built plows and wagons and worked as a farm hand. He spent 10 years building a 466 mile road from Mexico City to Zacatecas, and conducting the postal and delivery service along the route. That road is still in use today. Sebastian eventually became very wealthy, but lived simply, and was very generous in helping the poor. He eventually gave away his wealth and became a Franciscan at age 72, spending his remaining 25 years begging alms for his brother Franciscans. He is noted for performing many miracles of healing. He died at the age of 98. He was beatified in 1789. He is the patron saint of road builders and travelers.
A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. We hear this message in the psalm today, a very appropriate message for the holy season of Lent. We are called to lived humble lives of service and to strive to change our ways and to repent from our sins. In a society where everyone want to be the winner and to lift themselves above everyone else, this message today is somewhat counter-cultural. May we strive toward a life of humility and service during these holy days of Lent.
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