Today we celebrate the feast of an important bishop in the history of the Church: Charles Borromeo, who was born at Arona in Lombardy in 1538. After taking honors in both civil and canon law, he was made cardinal and bishop of Milan by his uncle, Pope Pius IV. As a true pastor of his flock he tirelessly promoted Christian life by the reform of his diocese, the convocation of synods (including influencing the reopening of the Council of Trent for its third and fourth sessions), and the promulgation of regulations intended to foster the Church's mission. He is the patron saint of bishops, catechists and seminarians. He founded The Oblates of St. Ambrose – The Ambrosians – a society of diocesan priests to help him carry out his work. He died in 1584 at the age of 46 and was canonized in 1610. Pope John XXIII had a special devotion to St. Charles and chose his feast day for his consecration as pope even though it fell on a Wednesday. (We are privileged to have within our cluster churches named after both St. Charles and St. Ambrose.)
The first reading today from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans clearly points out St. Paul's desire for the Romans to think clearly and soberly at all times – each person thinking according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned. This is good advice especially on this Election Day in our country. If we each consider ourselves but members of one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another our whole lives long – each having something unique and useful and beautiful to share with everyone else – then we will know how to love: and our love will be sincere: it will hate what is evil and hold on to what is good; it will be a mutually affectionate love; it will be a love that anticipates the other in showing honor and respect. And we will be both good members of the Church and citizens of our country.
On this important day in American history we pray that the citizens of our country do not grow slack in zeal for the things of God; we pray that they be fervent in spirit, remembering always that they first serve the Lord. We pray that the leaders of our citizens always rejoice in the hope that only God can give, we pray that they endure in affliction, persevere in prayer – and always be willing to contribute to the needs of the holy (and the lowly) ones (and indeed everyone), exercising hospitality to all their constituents from those in the womb to those in the tomb.
Jesus tells us – in the gospel passage today to remember always that HE ALONE IS THE ONE, TRUE AND GOOD SHEPHERD. And that if we rely completely on him – he will take care of us – and he will see to it that we have proper and qualified leaders (in both the ecclesial and civil realms) to show us the way. A hired man – who is interested only in himself, will not know how to shepherd selflessly – and will ultimately let the sheep wander around aimlessly – while apparently being well-intentioned. We pray to Lord today that we keep the end goal in mind: that there may be one flock, having one shepherd - Jesus: and that what we do, each in our own particular nations, is but a "dress-rehearsal" for the real calling forth of the elect that will happen One Day – when Jesus will come – and sort us out by the decisions for right, the decision for love that we made in life – and begins his reign as King of Justice and Love forever!
Forever, we will sing the goodness of the Lord – in the Kingdom of God our Father!
No comments:
Post a Comment