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Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pp. D. (03rd September, 2018) on the Gospel and the Memorial
 
1Cor 2:1-5;
Ps 118:97-102. (R. v.97);
Lk 4:16-30.

Pope Saint Gregory I (the Great), son of Gordianus and Silvia was born around 540 in Rome. Pope Felix III (483 - 492) was his great-great-grandfather. He was well educated and excelled in all his studies. Gregory was the Prefect of Rome. He converted his family villa in Rome into a monastery (San Gregorio Magno al Celio) after his father’s death. As a monk, he was hard and strict. Gregory was proclaimed pope by acclamation after the death of Pope Pelagius II (579 – 590). He emphasized missionary work and also made many changes in the Mass. His contributions to the development of the plainchant (Gregorian Chant) is under dispute. Pope Gregory generously cared for the poor. He suffered from arthritis in his last years and died on March 12, 604 AD. He was immediately proclaimed a saint by means of popular acclaim and is venerated in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran Christians.[1] Saint Gregory the Great is the Patron Saint of England and Teachers.[2]
Topic: ...prophet’s hometown.
Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth where He was brought up on the Sabbath. After reading from prophet Isaiah, He said to His audience, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All in the synagogue spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His mouth. Nevertheless, they queried, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” The hitch of being Joseph’s son reached the point of intending to hurl Him off the cliff but Jesus went away through their midst.
There is a story of an old man who refused the help offered him by a man with a jeep and another in a canoe when the dam burst. He waited for God until he was finally drowned. Standing before God, he queried, ‘How could you let me drown! I trusted you!’ God told him that He sent a jeep and a canoe but he rejected both.[3]
The Nazarenes together with other Jews had prayed and waited for the Messiah for a very long time before the coming of Jesus yet they rejected Him. They expect a saviour whose background will be unknown, cf. Jn 7:27.
We suffer a number of things not because we do not have those to fix them but they are rejected because of their background. This cut across every sphere of life. We either accept our saviours or move from bad to worse. Finally, may we follow the example of Saint Gregory the Great and work tirelessly for the good of our brothers and sisters every day.
Bible Reading: 1Cor 1:18-31; Acts 13:13-41.
Thought for today: Accept and live or reject and die.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, by the rejection you suffered in the hands of your brothers and sisters, help us to accept others as we should – Amen.
Saint Gregory the Great – Pray for us.
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