Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Today is the feast of St. Leo the Great. I’ve been blessed to know a number of Leo’s in my lifetime and they are all pretty great. Pope Leo I led the Catholic church back in the 5th century. What made him so great? There are likely a number of reasons for this title but my favorite story is the famous story of how he persuaded Atilla the Hun not to invade Rome, saving the people of the city who had sought refuge in the churches there.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus surprisingly praises the dishonest steward. However, I don’t believe that it is because of his dishonesty, but that he was prudent in dealing with his precarious situation. Christ calls on us to be good, prudent, and honest stewards to one another. Leo was such a steward in his time as he protected the church against the secular powers that threatened the lives of Christians and the dignity of our faith. Yet, greatness in politics and world matters doesn’t make you a saint. Leo was a champion of Christ’s love and truth, battling heresies of the early church and drawing attention to the Incarnation of Christ as fully human in his death on the cross and fully divine in the resurrection.
In the first reading, St. Paul reflects on being “a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the holy Spirit” (Rom 14:16). In his ministry, St. Leo the Great did likewise, striving to carry out his own priestly duty in this profound act of obedience. May our good and loving God guide us to reap the benefits of his teaching and his examples. St. Leo the Great, pray for us.
Peace,
Brandon Meyer