Homily – 090=-03-2008 – St. Gregory the Great

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Gregory the Great, only the second Pope to be named with the title "Great" – thus far in Church history (Leo I being the first). Gregory lived in the second half of the 6^th century.

Gregory always had a monastic bent, and being pope was the farthest thing from his mind. However, when Pope Pelagius II died, while a junior deacon in Rome, he was unanimously elected Pope – and was appointed so by the Emperor. Gregory always was as pastoral as he could be in his episcopacy – taking to heart Jesus' words to Peter and his successors to "take care of the flock of God." He did much to provide for the needs of the poor! But he also had to deal with many civil issues because of the tumultuous times that existed in Rome.

Gregory also had a great interest in the liturgy. He wrote several Prefaces for Feasts – and he is responsible for placing the "Our Father" where we now have it in the Mass. Plainsong chant usage became so widespread in his day – that it became known as a chant with his own name attached to it: Gregorian Chant – and we still have it in our Church to this day!

But his great written works – especially instructions to bishops on how to pastor their flocks – made him eligible to be among the 4 original great Western Doctors of the Church, along with Ambrose, Augustine and Jerome.

The first reading today relates the spirit of St. Gregory the Great - in his belief that - along with St. Paul - he was not preaching himself (his opinions, his ideas, his will) but rather those of Jesus Christ the person, the person Crucified – not the concept! And that the Christ he was preaching was the very Light of the world, which reflected with the glory of God the Father, which shone on his face! Our faces too, now that we are baptized can shine with the light of Christ – when we "preach" and relate him to others as he is, and not with our own opinions, our own ideas, our own wills – when we relate him as Crucified and Risen!

In the gospel passage Jesus promises to confer a kingdom on his faithful co-workers – the Apostles sent in his name to light the world and to be its inspiration. But he reminds them that the true and faithful co-worker will be the one, who, like him, ranks himself as the lowest, and serves the needs of the rest! No doubt Gregory remembered this during his papacy. He took comfort in being but a mere servant of Jesus, finding himself more empowered by the Holy Spirit the more humble he sought to be.

Let us this day proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all we meet, to all the nations – and let us see the Light of Christ and the Glory of God the Father!