Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time/ Feast of St. Charles Borromeo
Today's Scripture
Today we celebrate the feast of the St. Charles Borromeo. St. Charles was a person who lived in the 16th century. He started his religious formation at age twelve and finished his doctorate by age twenty-one. Charles spent his whole life in service of the Church and the people of God. When his father died, his family wanted to Charles to assume the titles of his family. Charles refused their request. He became a great writer and gave time talent and treasure in service of the poor in Milan at the time of the plague.
The readings today are fitting for a committed servant such as St. Charles. St. Paul is challenging the community in Rome to “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.” (Rom 13: 8) For Paul, all the law is fulfilled by loving one another. That is why it is called the greatest commandment. Radically loving all, including your enemies, calls for complete trust in God. Blessed is the one who not only fears the Lord but delights in his commandments.
Jesus states this demand for being a completely committed disciple more radically. “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children…he can not be my disciple.” (Lk 14:26) This stunning statement draws our attention directly to the word “hates”. Jesus uses this word to get peoples attention. Yet, if we look at this verse more deeply, the power of the first part “comes to me” draws this whole reading into clarity. As disciples, we are not being called to hate our family. We are being called to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Consequently, we must commit ourselves completely to God.
Only with complete commitment to our relationship with the Lord, can we have a proper foundation that is Christ. Prehaps today we can reflect on what are the primary goals of our life are. What aspect of our lives could we identify as being radically Christ centered? Pray about a specific practice you could adopt to make Christ more central to your life.
“Almighty God, You made us for Yourself, help us give ourselves completely to Your service, so that our restless hearts will find rest in You. Amen!”
- Michael Montgomery