Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the church
As we near the beginning of our new parish discipleship theme “Being Church at Home and Being Home at Church”, I have been thinking about the area of my life most in need of transformation related to this theme. How can I make my discipleship more “seamless” between church and home? This weekend God made this clear to me! I attended my nephew’s beautiful wedding in Michigan with my extended family and for nearly 72 hours struggled with the revelation. I realized how very uncomfortable I feel speaking openly to my extended family about my call to discipleship and that I know deep in my heart what my specific call and purpose as a disciple of Christ means to me. There were times when I should have spoken but was silent and opportunities to express my discipleship that I let pass by. In a very particular way, I am being invited to struggle to be “Church at Home”.
Today we celebrate the feast of St Gregory the Great. There is a strong parallel between his story and today’s readings. Gregory left his life as a successful politician and set out to live the simple life of a monk. He eventually became abbot of his monastery, was selected as a deacon of Rome and, upon the death of the Pope, was elected to the office of the papacy. Gregory struggled a great deal trying to discern if this was God’s will for him. When he came to accept that it was indeed God’s plan for him, he embraced his mission with great zeal and undertook the daunting task of stabilizing the Church in a very chaotic period in its history.
The reading from First Corinthians demonstrates the manner in which Paul embraces his personal mission and its struggles as well. St. Paul is aware of the challenges and divisions that are facing this early Christian community. Paul stresses the fact that it is not his own plan or wisdom or power that is the source of his authority, that rather everything he does comes from the power and Spirit of God (1 Cor 2:5). St Paul knows exactly who he is. St Paul knows exactly what his role and purpose are in God’s plan and speaks forthrightly to correct and encourage this fledgling community.
In the Gospel passage we see Jesus publicly claiming and living his personal role from the Father. In Luke’s Gospel, this incident in the synagogue immediately follows Jesus’ temptation in the desert and the beginning of his ministry. Jesus has returned to his hometown of Nazareth and, when handed the scroll of Isaiah, locates a specific passage (Is 61: 1-2), and proclaims it to the assembly:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Lk4:18-19)
Jesus then addresses the assembly, “ Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4:21) Initially “amazed” by Jesus’ words, the people eventually become enraged and drive him from town intending to kill him (Lk 4:28-30). And well we know, Jesus never strayed from his call or the struggles accompanying it. Jesus was who he was called to be regardless of who he was with or what circumstances he found himself in.
Jesus, St Paul, and St Gregory, each in their own way, demonstrate that accepting and claiming their very personal and sacred call involves radical surrender and intense, ongoing struggle; they knew all these things would continue until the end of their days. They also knew this constant struggle was the most powerful evidence of their commitment and faith and that it was only possible by the power of the Spirit.
When God graces me with knowledge of his desire for my individual life, I am offered the grace to carry out this role and persevere in the struggles that come. Gaining an awareness of my weakness is a blessing; I can view this knowledge for what it is…an invitation to deeper conversion of heart so I can fully express God’s role for my individual life at church or at home. My ongoing struggle to deeper personal conversion is vital to fulfilling my role in God’s plan. Today I pray that I embrace exactly what God desires for me, including the struggle, that I may grow more fully into “Being Church at Home and Being Home at Church.”
Father God,
You have a specific role in your plan
that can be fulfilled by no one but me.
Grant me the grace to claim it unreservedly
and accept—even embrace—the struggle set before me
Let my life be a pure, unmitigated expression
of this sacred purpose.
With the intercession of the Blessed Virgin,
In Jesus holy name.
AMEN
-Gail Lyman