FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 MEMORIAL ST GREGORY THE GREAT

"Learn the Heart of God from the Word of God."

(St Gregory the Great, 540-604)

MASS READINGS:

Responsorial Psalm 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

R. (2b) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song. R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord. Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; Give thanks to him; bless his name. R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord. For he is good, the LORD, whose kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations. R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

REFLECTION

”Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.”

St Gregory has been given a place with Augustine, Ambrose, and Jerome, as one of the four key doctors of the Western Church.

From a sermon by St Gregory the Great:

Ezekiel, the prophet, was referred by God as a watchman. A "watchman" is one who takes up a position on the heights so that he can see from a distance whatever approaches.

St Gregory said he was an appointed watchman to the people and it was he who should live a life on the heights, so that he can help them by taking a wide survey. He reproached himself because he did not preach as he should nor did his life follow the principles he so inadequately preached.

When a monastic, he was able to keep his tongue quiet and to devote himself to the discipline of prayer. However, in his role of pastor his mind was distracted by many responsibilities. He admonished himself for his lax discipline of his speech and his balancing of saying what his conscience dictated vs listening to aimless chatter for the sake of the goal of saving their souls.

He questioned what kind of a watchman he was. He did not feel his achievements were his pinnacle, but rather he languished in the depths of his weakness. He attributed all to God who through grace allowed St Gregory to see life whole and the power to speak effectively. (1)

To his congregation he said, "Study, I beg you, and each day meditate on the words of your Creator. Learn the heart of God in the words of God, so that you long more ardently for eternity. "(2)

(1) St Gregory sermon, Universalis app

(2) Magnificat

Pray for our priests, bishops and Pope that they may follow the Word of God and be obedient to His grace. Pray that they may have the spirit of wisdom and the zeal to help their flock grow in holiness. PAPA Prayer for Priests

God Bless You