Thursday, September 3, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

(I Corinthians 3:18-23; Luke 5:1-11)

St. Paul orders Church relations in a radical way in today’s first reading.  For him those holding offices in the Church have less importance.  These are the apostles and evangelists who roam the earth preaching Christ.  They are meant to serve the people of God, who in turn serve the Lord Jesus who serves God the Father.  This differs decidedly from the Medieval arrangement which saw nobility on the first tier, followed by the clergy on the second tier, and then commoners.

Pope St. Gregory the Great, a sixth century pope, Church Father, and Doctor of the Church, took with Paul’s revolutionary arrangement to heart.  He called himself “the servant of the servants of God.”  He understood what Christ meant when he told his apostles that they were to serve and not to be served.  Gregory’s charity was so bountiful, his achievements so manifold, and his impact so considerable that he is recognized as one of three popes called “the Great.”

We should strive to see ourselves as Paul sees the Corinthian faithful.  We are the “People of God,” as Vatican II proclaimed.  We exist to give God thanks and praise.  The clergy helps us on this mission.  But we must make the effort to break with the sinful aspects of the world to live as God’s true sons and daughters.

 Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

 (I Corinthians 3:1-9; Luke 4:38-44)

 As before, in today’s gospel Jesus retreats to a deserted place and is tempted.  This time, however, it is not Satan who does the bidding but “the crowds of people.”  They want Jesus to stay in their town to help them.

 Jesus has successfully met the people’s needs.  His speaking with authority has left them astonished.  His casting out maddening demons and curing illnesses has healed them mentally and physically.  Why wouldn’t they want such a prophet to remain among them?  The gospel mentions that the people try to prevent Jesus from leaving but does not mention how. We might imagine their making offers difficult to refuse.  They may tempt him with a life-tenure as rabbi of their synagogue.  Or perhaps they propose the hand of the beautiful daughter of the town’s richest merchant in marriage!

 But Jesus knows that he is no local guru.  He has come to bring about the universal Kingdom of God.  He will inaugurate it with words, deeds, and ultimately with his life.  He is not to be deterred by temptations of beauty or security.  Jesus here offers us an example and an assurance.  Like him we must know what we are about as Christians and not allow ourselves to be lured away from holiness.  Equally important, Jesus assures us that he will not be distracted from his mission of saving us.