And Saint Romuald, Abbot
Biographical Information about Saint Romuald, Abbot[1]
Readings for Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Cor 8:1-9
St. Paul writes to the Corinthians about the generosity of the churches of Macedonia. He has started a collection to relieve the mother church in Jerusalem that was in the middle of a famine (Acts 11:27-30). He clearly felt this act of charity strengthened the unity of the whole Church and was encouraging the church in Corinth to follow that example. He sends Titus to them with two companions to begin the charitable act there.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:2, 5-6ab, 6c- 7, 8-9a
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
In this hymn of praise we find support for the charitable acts being requested by St. Paul above. Beyond the actions of man, God saves those who are faithful to him.
Gospel Mt 5:43-48
In this passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel the Lord continues to reinterpret Mosaic Law. Today he goes after the closed community. He tells the disciples, consistent with the instruction to “turn the other cheek”, to love not just those who love us but those who are our enemies as well. He points out that to do less than that is human nature but our calling is to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect.
Reflection:
Scripture today continues to remind us of our “Christian ethic” and how it differs from that of secular society. Yesterday we were told not to retaliate when we are wronged, today we are told to love those who wrong us. If we say in our prayer “But Lord, that is too hard. I cannot love one who has hurt me.” The Lord answers from scripture saying “Do not the pagans do the same?”
We are called to a higher standard, and Jesus knows how to help us. Let us think of an analogy here. Once upon a time I was quite active in archery. I practiced as often as I could and became proficient with the bow. I had reached a plateau and could not seem to improve. My goal was to be able to place five arrows in a row on a paper plate from fifty yards. As hard as I tried, I could not achieve that goal. The archery professional where I bought my supplies told me how to take the next step. He said, put a circle the size of a paper cup in the middle of the paper plate and shoot for that. Within days of doing that I was consistently placing all my arrows on the plate.
The Lord places in front of us a target that we can never hope to hit. He says “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” By doing our best to achieve that goal we will at least progress beyond our normal behavioral practices. Many of those who have gone before us have taken this goal so seriously that they have achieved great gifts of grace as a result of their efforts. We memorialize one of those saints today as we remember St Romuald. After getting off on the wrong foot in his youth, he went on become a Benedictine Monk and founded numerous monasteries around Italy.
Today let us keep the Lord’s voice constantly in our ears as he tells us “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” In tying for the big prize, perhaps we will achieve something that will give others a chance to praise the Father we serve for his greatness.
Pax
[1] The Picture used today is “St. Romuald” by Fra Angelico 1441-42
[2] After Links Expire
Biographical Information about Saint Romuald, Abbot[1]
Readings for Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Cor 8:1-9
St. Paul writes to the Corinthians about the generosity of the churches of Macedonia. He has started a collection to relieve the mother church in Jerusalem that was in the middle of a famine (Acts 11:27-30). He clearly felt this act of charity strengthened the unity of the whole Church and was encouraging the church in Corinth to follow that example. He sends Titus to them with two companions to begin the charitable act there.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:2, 5-6ab, 6c- 7, 8-9a
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
In this hymn of praise we find support for the charitable acts being requested by St. Paul above. Beyond the actions of man, God saves those who are faithful to him.
Gospel Mt 5:43-48
In this passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel the Lord continues to reinterpret Mosaic Law. Today he goes after the closed community. He tells the disciples, consistent with the instruction to “turn the other cheek”, to love not just those who love us but those who are our enemies as well. He points out that to do less than that is human nature but our calling is to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect.
Reflection:
Scripture today continues to remind us of our “Christian ethic” and how it differs from that of secular society. Yesterday we were told not to retaliate when we are wronged, today we are told to love those who wrong us. If we say in our prayer “But Lord, that is too hard. I cannot love one who has hurt me.” The Lord answers from scripture saying “Do not the pagans do the same?”
We are called to a higher standard, and Jesus knows how to help us. Let us think of an analogy here. Once upon a time I was quite active in archery. I practiced as often as I could and became proficient with the bow. I had reached a plateau and could not seem to improve. My goal was to be able to place five arrows in a row on a paper plate from fifty yards. As hard as I tried, I could not achieve that goal. The archery professional where I bought my supplies told me how to take the next step. He said, put a circle the size of a paper cup in the middle of the paper plate and shoot for that. Within days of doing that I was consistently placing all my arrows on the plate.
The Lord places in front of us a target that we can never hope to hit. He says “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” By doing our best to achieve that goal we will at least progress beyond our normal behavioral practices. Many of those who have gone before us have taken this goal so seriously that they have achieved great gifts of grace as a result of their efforts. We memorialize one of those saints today as we remember St Romuald. After getting off on the wrong foot in his youth, he went on become a Benedictine Monk and founded numerous monasteries around Italy.
Today let us keep the Lord’s voice constantly in our ears as he tells us “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” In tying for the big prize, perhaps we will achieve something that will give others a chance to praise the Father we serve for his greatness.
Pax
[1] The Picture used today is “St. Romuald” by Fra Angelico 1441-42
[2] After Links Expire
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