Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

(Titus 2:1-8.11-14; Luke 17:7-10)

Today’s readings sound severe.  They contain very little Gospel promise and much evangelical demand.  Neither the author of the Letter to Titus nor Jesus in the gospel reading will allow disciples to shirk their responsibilities.  The Letter to Titus insists that Christians be temperate, chaste, and faithful.  Jesus no less commands his apostles to concentrate on service, not on rewards.

Today’s patron saint, Josaphat, provides an excellent example of unwavering service to the Lord.  He was a monk in the Ruthenian Catholic Church when he was made archbishop of Polotsk in today’s Belarus.  There he was caught in the middle of two power struggles: one between Catholics and Orthodox and another between different Catholic groups.  Yet he administered his archdiocese, cared for the poor, and won many converts to Catholicism. 

Of course, we cannot forget that the gospel is first and foremost the good news of our salvation via faith in Jesus Christ.  There’s only a glimmer of this message in today’s Mass readings, but the Mass prayers resound with it.  Jesus urges us to shine like the stars in doing what is right.  He also provides the grace that we might do so.

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

 Tuesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

 (Titus 2:1-8.11-14; Luke 17:7-10)

 The beloved Latin teacher had a brusque way of addressing his students.  He called them “pinheads.”  He did not intend to be mean or insulting.  He probably only wanted his charges to retain some humility as they grew into adulthood.  In any case, his students did not resent the teacher’s rudeness.  They appreciated his dedication to his profession.  Both readings today call for a similar curtailing of how people think of themselves.

The first reading admonishes young men “to control themselves.”  This counsel applies to different aspects of life including the way people estimate their abilities. Most tend to exaggerate them to the extent that they fail to see many virtues in others.  In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples to think of themselves as “unprofitable servants” – a sure way to avoid pride in our utilitarian society.

Humility recognizes that all our goodness has God as its source.  It moves us to thank God for His beneficence toward us.  Humility also recognizes that others have abilities that we don’t have.  It then prompts us to acknowledge them as God’s handiwork worthy of esteem.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Tuesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Titus 2:1-8.11-14; Luke 17:7-10)

The beloved Latin teacher had a brusque way of addressing his students.  He called them “pinheads.”  He did not intend to be mean or insulting.  He probably only wanted his charges to retain some humility as they grew into adulthood.  In any case, his students did not resent the teacher’s rudeness.  They appreciated his dedication to his profession.  Both readings today call for a similar curtailing of how people think of themselves.

The first reading admonishes young men “to control themselves.”  This counsel applies to different aspects of life including the way people estimate their abilities. Most tend to exaggerate their them to the extent that they fail to see the virtues of everyone else.  In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples to think of themselves as “unprofitable servants” – a sure way to avoid pride in our utilitarian society.

Humility recognizes that all our goodness has God as its source.  It moves us to thank God for His beneficence toward us.  Humility also recognizes that others have abilities that we don’t have.  It then prompts us to acknowledge them as God’s handiwork worthy of esteem.