Delivering the homily at the 158th annual feast of St. Sebastian’s National Shrine in Kandana, a suburb north of Colombo, on January 20, Auxiliary Bishop J.D. Anthony of Colombo emphasized that devotion to the saint carries a profound social responsibility.
He reminded the faithful that touching the statue of St. Sebastian is not merely an act of piety but a commitment to become “another Sebastian” in today’s society.
The bishop noted that those who seek the saint’s intercession must also embrace the demands of their faith.
“Standing fearlessly against injustice, unfairness, and corruption in our society, and dedicating one’s life to building a world of justice and equity, is a calling we receive through our very Baptism,” Bishop Anthony said.
This year’s feast was celebrated under the theme “Towards a Parish Renewal as Witnesses of Faith,” in keeping with the Archdiocese of Colombo’s Pastoral Year of Parish Renewal. St. Sebastian holds a special place in Sri Lankan Catholic devotion, and his feast traditionally draws large numbers of devotees, including people from other faith traditions.
In his homily, Bishop Anthony reflected deeply on the nature of authentic faith.
“Faith must exist in our blood,” he said. “A faith that remains only in the eyes or ears is fragile and can fade at any moment. Unless faith flows through our lifeblood, we cannot be true witnesses for God.”
Drawing inspiration from the life of St. Sebastian, the bishop noted that the saint chose Jesus Christ as his true Master over a cruel emperor. Because his faith was deeply rooted, it remained unshaken even when his body was pierced by arrows.
“When we express our devotion by touching the statues of saints, we enter into a serious obligation,” he added. “A person whose faith is in their blood cannot remain silent in the face of wrongdoing. Christians have a responsibility to oppose evil. A Christian cannot bow before injustice.”
Concluding his message, Bishop Anthony urged the faithful to rely on God’s strength, as St. Sebastian did, especially during times of persecution or when speaking the truth becomes unpopular.
Mahinda Namal, founding editor of the alternative newspaper Kithusara and author of 16 Sinhala books, is a prolific writer and dedicated environmental activist in Sri Lanka.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) , a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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