Homily: Feast of St. Gregory the Great “Hesitant Leader”
Feast of St. Gregory the Great “Hesitant Leader”
Sometimes the greatest leaders are those who take on the mantel of leadership reluctantly. I once heard of a priest who did not want to be pastor of the largest parish in his diocese. He pointed out that he felt unqualified, and he pointed to others who he thought would be far better for the job. His bishop said, “I want you to take the parish because you don’t want to.” The bishop saw in the reluctant pastor a humility that he admired. He also saw the talents that the priest could not see in himself.
We celebrate the feast of a reluctant leader today as we remember Gregory the Great (540-604). Gregory was the son of a wealthy Roman Senator. He was well educated and as a young man became prefect of Rome. But he did not want worldly power.
In 573 he sold all his property because he wanted to enter the monastery. He founded 13 monasteries around Italy. He gave a lot of his wealth to the poor. He was known for his austere lifestyle. Gregory the Great was only a junior deacon at the time of Pope Pelagius II’s death, but he was unanimously elected to the papacy by the other leaders of the church.
He asked the emperor not to accept him as Pope, but the emperor appointed him anyway. Gregory was reluctant to be Pope, but he entered enthusiastically into his ministry. He began a reform for the church and was known for his great love of the poor. He challenged his bishops to have that same love.
Because of the break down in the government of the empire, there was a vacuum in leadership. People looked to Gregory to step in and lead the empire, and so He did. In the end, he was the civic leader that he never wanted to be. He directed armies and negotiated treaties, so that Rome might be safe. When the barbarian hordes came to take over Rome it was Gregory who bribed them to save the city.
He wrote works of Theology and promoted chant in the liturgy. At the end of his life, he had many admirers. He also had enemies. Such is the lot of most leaders. No one, however, doubted Gregory’s talents nor his sincerity.
Reflection Questions:
- Have I ever assumed a task I felt unqualified for? How did things turn out?
- Did someone ever believe in me when I did not believe in myself? Who was that person and what did their faith in me feel?
Dear Parishioners,
Religious Education is more challenging than it has ever been. I was talking to a local educator recently who told me that the reading levels of children have declined in our local schools. Learning on-line sounds like a viable option, however in reality it is highly ineffective. Programs are going to have to be developed to catch students up in reading, writing and arithmetic.
Religious Education has also suffered. Students have gotten behind. We need to catch children up on their sacraments. If your children or grandchildren need to be baptized, need to make their First Communion, be confirmed, and they have not been to religious education in a while please contact Debbie Patronagio at our religious education office. We will start to give them formation, so they can receive the sacraments. Religious Education classes begin next week. There is no better gift than the gift of faith.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark