Sunday the 16th of November 2025 - In the Diocese of Portsmouth - Saint Edmund of Abingdon

Jeremiah 1:4-9/ Ps 96(95)/ 2 Corinthians 3:1-6a/ John 21:15-17

Who do we see as role models, who do we look up to, who do we follow the example of? Today our world is full of celebrities and influencers. People who seek to be in the public eye and relish the thought of having hundreds or millions of followers. The church has always had its role models, they are the saints, people who in some way have lived heroic Christian lives. The saints and modern-day celebrities both command public attention but they have very differing reasons for admiration, their purpose in life, and their values. A saint is acclaimed for self-sacrifice, humility, and service to God, always pointing away from themselves and towards God. The celebrity is often only known for being famous, pointing towards themselves for self-promotion, and for becoming wealthy in the eyes of this world. We also today have the ‘influencer’ who uses social media to build an online presence with a dedicated following allowing them to build up a certain credibility, apparent authority and knowledge, allowing them to exercise a level of influence over a large group of people. Our saints should be the influencers in our lives, taking the example of how they lived, pointing us towards God and the heavenly wealth that will last far beyond anything we might possess in this life.

Today we, in the diocese of Portsmouth, leave the ordinary church calendar and celebrate the solemnity of saint Edmund of Abingdon, a patron saint of our diocese. Saint Edmund might not be one of the best-known saints but was chosen as our patron because of his holiness, his connections with the area, and his life as a reforming but just Bishop. He was born in Abingdon and became a scholar, an influential preacher, and Archbishop of Canterbury, finding himself having to defend the church against the demands of King Henry III. The readings for today reflect Edmund’s life and ministry.

In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear the Lord's words: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’. These words resonate with Edmund's own journey. From the very beginning, Edmund's life was woven into God's plan for him. Like Jeremiah, Edmund might well have protested his inadequacy when called to greater service. Yet God's assurance to the prophet applies equally to Edmund. Edmund's journey took him from the halls of Oxford to the Archbishop's throne of Canterbury. He did not seek this appointment, initially resisting it. As with Jeremiah, Edmund learned that God's call demands obedience, not reliance on our own worthiness.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we see another parallel with Edmund’s ministry. He understood that his effectiveness as teacher, reformer, and shepherd came not from his learning or natural abilities, but from God's grace working through him. Edmund was renowned for his lectures on scripture and theology, but he always insisted that knowledge must lead to holiness, that learning must serve love. Although a man of great learning he never allowed this knowledge to become rigid or lifeless allowing the Spirit to work through everything he taught and did.

In following the message of the Gospel passage Edmund moulded his ministry around the three-fold commissioning of Peter by Jesus. Three times Jesus asked, “Do you Love me?” and made the three-fold command, “Feed my lambs... Tend my sheep... Feed my sheep." As Archbishop, Edmund fed Christ's flock through his commitment to reform and renewal. He confronted corruption wherever he found it, saving the flock from being led astray. In facing up to the powers of the time, including the King, Edmund strove to protect the Church's freedom to proclaim the Gospel without compromise. Something we still need to do today. Although a highly respected scholar, in a position of considerable power, Edmund remained humble, accessible, and genuinely concerned for the poorest under his care.

What can the example of Saint Edmund mean to us in our Diocese so many years later? He reminds us that God's call comes before our response, that we are known and loved by God before we even know ourselves. In a world that often measures worth by wealth, achievement or status, Edmund shows us that our deepest identity is as children of God, loved and called to holiness from the beginning of our existence.

Edmund challenges us to mix faith and intellect, prayer and action, contemplation and service. In our own time, when faith is often dismissed as unintellectual, Edmund shows us a better way. His life declares that the search for truth and the quest for holiness is not opposed but complementary. Whether we are students, teachers, professionals, or labourers, we are called through baptism to bring the light of our faith into our everyday lives. Edmund’s example inspires us to be courageous in faith. Speaking the truth of our faith may well bring criticism, where standing up for what is right might bring conflict. Edmund shows us that we should never compromise the essential truths of our faith.

It is not Just Bishops and Archbishops that are called to show pastoral love and care, we all are. Whether we are parents shepherding our children, teachers guiding students, or simply Christians trying to witness to our faith, we are all called to "feed the sheep" in our own lives. This means caring not just for people's material needs but for their spiritual welfare, not just for their comfort but for their salvation. Edmund reminds us that holiness is possible in everyday life. He was holy as a student, as a professor, and as an archbishop. His circumstances changed, but the fundamental call remained the same, to love God with all his heart and to serve God's people with total dedication.

Today let us ask Saint Edmund to intercede for our diocese, for Philip our bishop, and for all who serve in positions of leadership in the Church. Let us pray that we, like Edmund, hear Christ's question, "Do you love me?" and respond not just in words but in lives of faithful service.

Saint Edmund of Abingdon, pray for us

God Bless Brendan.