Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

Gregory the Great showed himself a true "servant of the servants of God" in how he, like Paul, took on suffering and humiliation, served the poor personally, and, like Jesus, accepted rejection and hostility for the good of others. He did all this despite not wanting the office but preferring prayer or mission. Let them encourage us when we are in such a position.

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Title

The Way Down is the Way Up

Outline

“He did not want to be bishop” can be start the bios of the best bishops

How many tried to hide or otherwise escape, only to end up serving and suffering well when it was clear that God would not let them escape.

Gregory the Great was a monk, who, while an able administrator, mourned the loss of his focus on prayer.

Gregory the Great was a missionary at heart, who sent Augustine of Canterbury because he could not go himself.

Gregory the Great was a worshipper who reformed the liturgy East and especially West.

The list of accomplishments goes on, but it becomes clear that “servant of the servants of God” was not an empty title for him, but a way of life.

Look at Gregory the Great (and other great bishops) as images of Paul

One does not find pride, but humility.

One does not find privilege but service - 12 hungry poor dined each day at Gregory’s table

In becoming a father to the church, he suffered himself, lived in simplicity, and was surely misunderstood but those who would not follow his austerities.

“When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we respond gently.” Sounds like a description of the pre-papal deacon Gregory in the court of the emperor (who had no intention of helping Rome)

Look at Gregory the Great as an image of Jesus

The disciples are hungry and walking through grainfields; they begin to pick and eat the grain, as the Torah allowed. But it was the sabbath, so they were criticized by the Pharisees who, because the disciples were not at the point of death, pointed out that harvesting, threshing and winnowing grain was not permitted on the sabbath.

Jesus counters by taking their shame on him as he identifies his case, picking a time David did break the Torah in the form we have it, doing so out of necessity. As Bishop Lopes once said about Roman Law, “there can be exceptions”

Jesus finishes with a Christological statement “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” He is lord even over Moses’ commandments, but he is a lord who is love, who sets aside commandments, not because they are difficult, but because there is a situation in which seeking the good of the other is blocked by rigid adherence to the commandment.

This sets up a series of conflicts on the same issue that the Pharisees respond to with increasing fury. This reminds me of some of the responses to perceptions of Pope Francis - I say, “perceptions,” because if one reacts one does not reflect on and think through a statement in context.

Sisters, we need to identify with Pope Gregory

We are “servants of the servants of God,” sometimes in positions that we welcomed but often in positions that we find stretching.

Criticism from those without or within, misunderstanding, separation from loved ones are all part of the package. They help us get down with Paul so that we can hopefully be exalted with Jesus.

We may facilitate others doing the ministries we wanted to do; we may defend others (quietly, kindly) and thus take their shame on us.

We may work long hours and go without ourselves so that sisters or students or whoever may benefit.

Remember these things when you feel discouraged or tired or get “the grass is greener” syndrome. That is when you need to re-read about St Paul’s “glorious” life and about all the shame that was heaped on Jesus during his life. That is when you need to remember that the way up is the way down is the way up.

St. Gregory the Great pray for us

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 9-3-2022: Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

FIRST READING

1 Corinthians 4:6b–15

6 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written, so that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over against another. 7 Who confers distinction upon you? What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting as if you did not receive it? 8 You are already satisfied; you have already grown rich; you have become kings without us! Indeed, I wish that you had become kings, so that we also might become kings with you.

9 For as I see it, God has exhibited us apostles as the last of all, like people sentenced to death, since we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and human beings alike. 10 We are fools on Christ’s account, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clad and roughly treated, we wander about homeless 12 and we toil, working with our own hands. When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we respond gently. We have become like the world’s rubbish, the scum of all, to this very moment.

14 I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Catholic Daily Readings 9-3-2022: Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

RESPONSE

Psalm 145:18

18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him,

to all who call upon him in truth.

PSALM

Psalm 145:17–21

17 The LORD is just in all his ways,

merciful in all his works.

18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him,

to all who call upon him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them.

20 The LORD watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he destroys.

21 My mouth will speak the praises of the LORD;

all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.

Catholic Daily Readings 9-3-2022: Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

GOSPEL

Luke 6:1–5

1 While he was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 2 Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” 3 Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those [who were] with him were hungry? 4 [How] he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions.” 5 Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 9-3-2022: Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 | MEMORIAL

SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT, POPE AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

Catholic Daily Readings 9-3-2022: Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

From Saturday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading 1 Corinthians 4:6b–15

Response Psalm 145:18

Psalm Psalm 145:17–21

Gospel Acclamation John 14:6

Gospel Luke 6:1–5

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