Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
There have been many changes in my life - my conversion to Catholicism was one - that were very hard to make. Some of that was about me, but some of it was about the people in my life who loved me. That can make it even harder to make changes.
Today, we remember Saint Alphonsus Liguori. He trained as a lawyer at the age of 16, and was very successful in his career. But he also worried about its effects on him, and wrote to a friend: "My friend, our profession is too full of difficulties and dangers; we lead an unhappy life and run risk of dying an unhappy death. For myself, I will quit this career, which does not suit me; for I wish to secure the salvation of my soul." Eventually, he did leave and trained to be a priest - something that made his father somewhat displeased. Liguori persisted, however, becoming a renowned homilist who founded several youth "chapels" and later became a bishop.
He's an interesting saint to reflect on today because he reminds us that sometimes our biggest obstacles to change - especially when we want to follow God - are other, well-meaning, and loving people who think we're taking missteps in our lives.
Today's scriptures highlight this. In today's first reading (Jeremiah 26:1-9), God asks Jeremiah to prophesy, so that the people will turn away from their sins. But instead of repenting, the people get defensive and turn on the messenger of the unwelcome news. Jeremiah follows God - but the people do not.
Today's gospel passage (Matthew 13:54-58) is similar: Jesus returns to his hometown, telling the same message he's been telling all along. But where in other towns, the people have been gladly hearing the message, in Nazareth, they're rejecting him. The people know him too well; they've seen him grow up, and so they think he can't possibly have anything to tell them.
The message for us is to remember that when we're faced with making changes in our lives, especially ones to which God calls us, the response won't always be terrific. But the testimony of God himself revealed in Jesus Christ, and in numerous saints like Saint Alphonsus Liguori, is that we are not alone in pursuing God's way.
Today, let us pray for courage and faithfulness for all those considering changes in their lives, big and small, that will help them on their Christian journey.
- Jana Bennett