Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel: Matthew 23: 8-12

Jesus spoke to his disciples:
“Do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate one of the greatest intellects the Church has ever known: Saint Augustine. 

Augustine has garnered more attention lately because of Pope Leo, who was formerly the head of the Augustinians, a religious order devoted to Augustine’s theology and spirituality.

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But who, exactly, was he?

Augustine was the son of Saint Monica, whose feast day we celebrated yesterday. Like many adults today, Monica prayed tearfully for the conversion of her son, as well as her husband, Patrick.

Fortunately, she never gave up.

After two decades of marriage, Patrick converted to Christianity, a mere two years before his death. However, he’d never live to see Augustine’s accomplishments. It’d take a few more years of searching before Augustine surrendered to Christ.

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Almost two-thousand years later, we can still tell Augustine’s story because of his autobiography, Confessions. It was the first autobiography written in the Western world, and perhaps, the first in history.

With stunning honesty and humility, he retraces the mistakes of his youth, how he dabbled in pagan philosophies, indulged in worldly pleasures, and finally experienced a dramatic conversion. 

The last section of his autobiography focuses on philosophy, theology, and his understanding of the human heart. His most famous line being: “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in you, O LORD.”

Interestingly, Augustine wrote Confessions shortly after becoming a bishop! Imagine having a storied history, then sharing it with the world while also carrying the yoke of public ministry. 

But he understood his life in the context of service to God and the Church. As he later said, “With you I am a Christian. For you I am a bishop.”  

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May he intercede for us today, that we would all accept the truth: “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in you, O LORD.” And live accordingly.

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Image credits: (1) Word on Fire (2) Ibid. (3) Redbubble

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Gospel: Luke 7: 11-17

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,
and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.
As he drew near to the gate of the city,
a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
“Do not weep.”
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
“A great prophet has arisen in our midst,”
and “God has visited his people.”
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Monica, the patroness of mothers, married women, and alcoholics.

Hers was a difficult life, sustained by faith and grace. Like many parents today, Monica’s greatest cross was the wellbeing of her child, Augustine, who was a wayward youth.

Although he was immensely gifted, Augustine first used his gifts to better himself. Spiritually, he was dead like the son in today’s Gospel.

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For 17 years, Monica prayed for Augustine’s conversion. I’m sure she shed enough tears to fill the sea, storming heaven in prayer day after day, night after night. 

But she never gave up. Love never does. 

Thankfully, her prayers were answered.

Augustine not only became Catholic; he was also ordained a priest and later a bishop. Finally putting his gifts at the service of the Church, he became one of the most influential thinkers the Church has ever known.

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On her deathbed, Monica asked Augustine for one thing: “That you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be.”

That’s something each of us can do for our loved ones, especially those who struggle in any way – with faith, temptation, or any particular cross. 

We remember them at the altar of the Lord, trusting that, through Monica’s intercession, our prayers will also be answered, even years from now.

Saint Monica, pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) Pastor Charles Finny, WordPress (2) The Raising of the Widows Son in Nain, Jan Verhas, 1860 (3) Womenofgrace.com

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1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.

The Word of the Lord.

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Some of us know what it’s like to have our name slandered, or a false charge presented against us. It’s painful not only because it questions our reputation, but also because it can undo the impact of our work.

Such is the case for Saint Paul in our first reading.

His First Letter to the Thessalonians is the oldest book or letter in the New Testament, pre-dating the Gospels. His cause for writing to these early Christians was two-fold. 

First and foremost, Paul had to answer the question of death. These early Christians didn’t meet Jesus, but they believed Paul’s preaching, that they, too, could enter the kingdom of God if they were faithful. 

Still, they wanted to know, “Can we still enter God’s kingdom if we die before Jesus returns?” The answer was a resounding, “Yes.”

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But, secondly, Paul must clear his name.

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Beneath his words of encouragement and teaching, Paul laments the suffering he endured while preaching the Gospel.

People resistant to the Gospel message threw multiple accusations at him, including everything from being a criminal on the run, to being delusional, impure, a liar, and a thief seeking to profit from his labors.

But he understood that people resistant to change – or to the Gospel message – often turn to lies to discredit what they dislike.

“We grew courage through our God to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle,” he says. “But we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel.”

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Thankfully, Paul never gave up.

In spite of the troubles he faced – from slander to physical abuse – he ran the race to the finish and kept the faith. In so doing, he spread the Gospel with great success.

Like Paul, may nothing stop us from preaching and living the Truth. Jesus Christ has loved us and given himself for us. 

So, how might we share this truth with others today?

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Image credits: (1) Medium (2) Saint Paul Delivering the Aeropagus Sermon, Raphael (3) Redbubble