Memorial
of Saint Monica, holy woman
(II
Thessalonians 3:1-3a.14-17; Matthew 23:23-26)
As a young
man, Saint Augustine achieved a modicum of success as a rhetorician. He headed an academy where he drew several
students. His reputation was growing,
but that fact did not pacify his mother, Saint Monica. More than anything else, Monica wanted her
son to practice the Catholic faith. It seems
that she saw material success as the outside of the cup to which Jesus alludes
in today’s gospel reading.
Jesus
frequently suggests that appearances are not to be judged so much as reality. The tax collector praying for forgiveness in the
Temple is perhaps the best example. His
prayer and not the Pharisee’s who reminds God of his own virtue is heard. In today’s gospel Jesus condemns the Pharisees’
attention to miniscule points of the Law while ignoring its principal teachings
of mercy and fidelity.
Saint
Monica ceaselessly petitioned God that her son become a Christian. She also appealed
to her son continually that he consider joining Christ. She knew that Christ was the way to true
happiness in eternal life. To her -- may
God grant it so for us as well -- fame, fortune, and fun cannot compete in
comparison.
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