Thursday, September 3, 2015

Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, pope

(Colossians 1:9-14; Luke 5:1-11)

St. Gregory is known as “the Great” because of his many accomplishments as pope.  Of these he is particularly famous for his sending out missionaries to England and Germany.  Especially in the latter place he is credited with facilitating the acceptance of Christianity by allowing the inculturation of the faith.  The pagan people there were accustomed to worshipping outside, but Christians generally worship in churches.  Gregory promoted the adoption of blessings of fields so that the new religion would not seem so strange to the Germans.  Pagans had their host of deities which was, of course, incompatible with Christian practice.  Gregory had missionaries use the saints as heavenly patrons for the people.  Just as there was a god for silversmiths, there would be a patron saint for these workers.

In today’s gospel Jesus likewise promotes missionary activity.  His sending Peter and companions back to the waters to fish prefigures their going forth to all nations.  They will bring many to hope in eternal life once Jesus is crucified and risen from the dead. 

The Church challenges all its members to consider themselves as missionaries.  Its “new evangelization” is a call that we bring others to the faith.  It is not a sending forth to distant shores but to our own families and associates.  By lives demonstrating how love for God moves us to care for neighbor, we are to instill the longing for eternal life in Christ.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Saint Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

(I Corinthians 4:1-5; Luke 5:33-39)

The Harvard economist Joseph Schumpeter once observed that one servant is worth a thousand gadgets. Devices like a GPS, I-Phone, and microwave oven may enhance convenience and satisfaction, but can they ever replace a loyal, competent servant? In the reading from I Corinthians today, Paul shares some insights into the Lord’s service.

The “us” to whom Paul refers as Christ’s servants is not meant to be all Christians, but those like himself who minister to the community. In Paul’s mind ministers directly serve Christ, not the people. This means that they take orders from the Lord and not from the faithful among whom they work. Of course, by not subjecting oneself to human authority, the minister risks becoming arrogant and autocratic. Paul, however, finds a safeguard in the criterion of trustworthiness. A true servant of Christ will prove himself or herself faultless in conduct, including humility.

Today the Church celebrates one of her most distinguished servants, Pope Gregory I. He worked tirelessly at the end of the sixth and beginning of the seventh centuries to support the plague-ridden Italian people, to improve relations between the eastern and western churches, and to promote missionary activity. He was distinctly aware of serving the People of God as he coined the term by which popes still identify themselves, “the servant of the servants of the Lord.” The church has honored him by calling him “Pope St. Gregory the Great.”

Homilette for Thursday, September 3, 2009

Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

(Colossians 1:9-14; Luke 5:1-11)

Even before Pope John Paul II died, some Church commentators wondered whether he would go down in history as “John Paul the Great.” It would be an extraordinary tribute. Only two other popes have had the distinction of being so characterized: St. Gregory whom we celebrate today and St. Leo whose feast was in June. Just as John Paul II’s, Gregory's papacy was marked by accomplishment. He is credited with saving Rome from the invading Lombards and became a temporal leader with the virtual abdication of the Roman emporer. He wrote extensively on different subjects. His Pastoral Care became a standard manual for church leaders, and his Moralia is considered a great spiritual work of antiquity. He also reformed the liturgy publishing the Gregorian Sacramentary. In fact, Gregorian chant is named after him.

The gospel today indicates the source of the prodigious achievements of popes like Gregory the Great and John Paul II. By relating how their boats are deluged with fish when Jesus’ disciples’ heed his command to “(P)ut out into the deep and lower your nets,” it suggests that the critical element of greatness is following Jesus’ directives. This rule applies to us as well. We too may achieve remarkable feats – at least the salvation of our own souls. In such cases our survivors may not think of us “Maria the Great” or “Stephen the Great,” but they will likely give thanks to God that we have lived.