August 23, 2014

St. Rose of Lima

Matthew 23: 1-12

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.

They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved. http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations

Our One Teacher

“You have but one teacher” says Our Lord today. This made me think of something that I witnessed on Boston Common on a cold and terribly rainy autumn day in 1979. In his first visit to the United States, Pope John Paul II wanted to give his attention to the some 175,000, who study in and around the city. I was working at Boston College, and hundreds of our students marched right down Commonwealth Ave. to the Common. We stood in the rain awaiting the Pope. He did not disappoint us. He gave a stirring homily. It went something like this (you have to imagine his English through a thick Polish accent): “Students of Boston” (big cheer).

Then, with rhetorical cleverness he went on to mention some of the great universities and schools (over 150) in, and around Boston – each received cheers from their students, who were present. He had us in the palm of his hands. “You study physics, and chemistry, and philosophy and languages, mathematics and history, literature and biology. I say to you: Study Christ!” At those stirring words a mighty cheer went up, and I could swear my feet lifted out of the mud.

—Fr. Robert Braunreuther, S.J., a Jesuit of the New England province, assists in University Ministry at Loyola University Chicago, where he is also minister of the Arrupe House Jesuit community.

Prayer

Help me to remember what is really important: that I am your child and you are my Father. You love me for who I am and how I live not what I look like or what I own. Let me praise you who sees into my heart, who is always with me and who eases my suffering. —Prayer of St. Rose
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