Procrastinator Makes Good

Memorial of Saint Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church

Readings for Monday
Biographical Information about Saint Augustine

Reflection:

Today we celebrate the memorial of one who proves the truth of the parable of the landowner who went looking for day laborers at different times during the day and paid them all the same wage. If St. Augustine were one of those laborers, he would have come to the field later in the day. While his mother was a devout Christian (Saint Monica) he fell away from her beliefs early in his life and his youth and middle years were best summed up by this quote from Confessions: “God, give me chastity and continence - but not just now." Clearly he had a sense of humor.

The scripture we have supporting his memorial is interesting. First we hear from Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians. In it he is praising the Thessalonians for their example of love for one another (amazing how often that theme comes up isn’t it). He is enjoining them to continue to preserver in the face of the persecutions they face in order to be worthy of the grace and reward of the faithful. In the event you are wondering, as I did, about the verses not used today (note the reading is 2 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12), verses 6-10 deal with the punishments to be handed out to their persecutors. Probably the Church scholars who assembled the Lectionary did not want us focusing on that part of Paul’s letter.

We follow the Psalm which is one of the Psalms of Praise, (“Sing to the Lord a new song.” Fitting for St. Augustine who was a Doctor of the Church and a brilliant theologian.) with a Gospel passage from St. Matthew. In this passage we again take up the hue and cry against the religious leadership of the Hebrew people. This time because they are selling God’s favor. Apparently the Scribes and Pharisees do not see all sacrifice as equal. The look at the giver’s gift and the more it is worth to them (not to God) the more access they are granted. Clearly this attitude is one of greed and that is what the Lord is crying out against.

For those of us who are not well off or cannot afford to give large sums to a parochial school or church, we have seen this same reaction to those who do have the where with all to do so. We have seen how church and school leaders seem to give deferential treatment to those who can afford to be generous. It is a sad but true fact of human nature. It is also understandable if we understand how these leaders are evaluated by their superiors and the expectations of those above them. The old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words is appropriate. Look at the old classic film “The Bishop’s Wife” with David Nivin and Cary Grant. David Nivin is an Episcopalian Bishop trying to build a cathedral and the principal contributor, a rich widow, is making all sorts of demands that he ends up agreeing to. Most real world situations are more subtle, but they do happen.

We need to avoid the judgment trap here. The lesson is for us to take to heart not a brush with which we can paint others. We need to watch out that what we value is of God not of man. We must watch our own hearts and understand what is important is not a car or house or possessions that will stay on this earth when we have gone on to the next. What we should value each day is that spiritual treasure that will go with us. Difficult lessons for us today. Pax