(Optional Memorial for Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)
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| “The Triumph of Virtue over Vice” by Paolo Veronese, 1554-56 |
Reading 1: 1 Timothy 3:1-13
Beloved, this saying is trustworthy:
whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.
Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable,
married only once, temperate, self-controlled,
decent, hospitable, able to teach,
not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle,
not contentious, not a lover of money.
He must manage his own household well,
keeping his children under control with perfect dignity;
for if a man does not know how to manage his own household,
how can he take care of the Church of God
He should not be a recent convert,
so that he may not become conceited
and thus incur the Devil’s punishment.
He must also have a good reputation among outsiders,
so that he may not fall into disgrace, the Devil’s trap.
Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful,
not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain,
holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
Moreover, they should be tested first;
then, if there is nothing against them,
let them serve as deacons.
Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers,
but temperate and faithful in everything.
Deacons may be married only once
and must manage their children and their households well.
Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing
and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
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Commentary on 1 Tm 3:1-13
St. Paul gives instructions in this passage on the character of presbyter-bishops (episkopos) and deacons (diakonos) in the early Church. Both are required to be faith-filled and moderate in their habits. Bishops additionally are to have the ability to teach, having reputations and temperament respected both inside the Christian community and out.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6
R. (2) I will walk with blameless heart.
Of mercy and judgment I will sing;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
I will persevere in the way of integrity;
when will you come to me?
R. I will walk with blameless heart
I will walk with blameless heart,
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
any base thing.
R. I will walk with blameless heart
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,
him will I destroy.
The man of haughty eyes and puffed up heart
I will not endure.
R. I will walk with blameless heart
My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of integrity
shall be in my service.
R. I will walk with blameless heart.
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Commentary on Ps 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6
Psalm 101 is a pledge of faithfulness. The strophes in this selection describe the character and temperament of the elect who walk the path of service to the Lord. The song also uses the antithesis of these characteristics to emphasize the need for upright behavior.
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Gospel: Luke 7:11-17
Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,
and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.
As he drew near to the gate of the city,
a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,
he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
“Do not weep.”
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,
“A great prophet has arisen in our midst,”
and “God has visited his people.”
This report about him spread through the whole of Judea
and in all the surrounding region.
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Commentary on Lk 7:11-17
St. Luke’s Gospel continues the description of Jesus' ministry. Just prior to this event, Jesus healed the centurion’s servant. He now demonstrates his power over sin and death as he raises the widow’s son from the dead. “Jesus' power over death prepares for his reply to John's disciples in Luke 7:22: 'the dead are raised.' This resuscitation, in alluding to the Prophet Elijah's resurrection of the only son of a widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-24), leads to the reaction of the crowd: 'A great prophet has arisen in our midst'(Luke 7:16).” [4]
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Reflection:
The reading from the First Letter to Timothy and the support provided by Psalm 101 provides us with inspiration today. The character of those called to discipleship is outlined in some detail. We are struck by the fact that it was necessary to do so, and that the character elements identified could be absent from a person who was still keeping Mosaic Law.
The character elements listed which include chastity, moderation, and temperament, are values we all need to strive toward. We suppose that a person could have fits of temper and lash out at people and still love God, but what of the great commandment? How can we love one another yet cruelly lash out at another? Yes, in this instance, we would not have violated any Mosaic Laws, but we would have failed in the eyes of Christ.
What about the drinking part? Could we fall into the abuse of alcohol and still not violate Mosaic Law? A state of drunkenness would make it difficult, but nothing is said about over-indulgence in the Decalogue. However, we fail once again in front of the Lord who tells us that we are to uphold the dignity of all persons (that includes not debasing ourselves). The Church has refined this instruction in the following passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart."72 Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites."73 In the New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety." We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world."74
To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).75”[5]
What this comes down to is that our conduct, not as bishops, priests, or deacons but as disciples of Christ, must be, as St. Paul
Pax
[1] The picture used is “The Triumph of Virtue over Vice” by Paolo Veronese, 1554-56.
[2] S.S Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4] See NAB Footnote on Luke 7:11ff.
[5] The references cited in the quote above are: 72 Sir 5:2; cf. 37:27-31.73 Sir 18:30.74 Titus 2:12. 75 St. Augustine, De moribus eccl. 1,25,46:PL 32,1330-1331.
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