Ephesians 3:14-21 / Luke 12:49-53
Paul talks about charity: Make love the root and foundation of life.
In his last speech before he was assassinated, Martin Luther King, as if he had a premonition of death, spoke about his funeral. He said: “If you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell him not to talk too long. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred awards. That’s not important.
“Tell them . . . that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to say on that day that I tried to love and serve humanity.” What Martin Luther King was saying is what Paul is saying in today’s reading. He is saying that he tried to make charity “the root and foundation” of his life.
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To what extent can we say that charity, or love, is “the root and foundation” of our life? “When the evening of life comes, we will be judged by love.” John of the Cross
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Saint Anthony Mary Claret
Feast Day October 24
The well-liked Spanish priest Anthony Claret was the fifth
of eleven children. His family was poor but hard working. Weaving was a family
trade. Anthony’s earliest memories of home were the family’s praying the rosary
and going to church. From this environment grew his deep love and devotion to
Jesus and Mary.
By age twenty-one Anthony had been educated and was in much
demand for his skill as a weaver. While suffering because of poor health,
Anthony imagined himself as a Carthusian monk. He went to the bishop for
advice. The bishop suggested that he first go to the diocesan seminary and
then, if he wished, leave and become a monk. Anthony followed this advice and
enjoyed seminary life.
Anthony was assigned as archbishop of Cuba. Not having had
an archbishop for fourteen years, the island was in need of renewal. Anthony
reorganized the seminary training, preached in all the churches, heard
confessions, and guided people to Christ. He worked for updated farm methods
and credit unions. He wanted the people to own their own farms, knowing that
this would improve family life. He made enemies by teaching black slaves.
Fifteen times people tried to assassinate him.
After eight years, Anthony was called to Spain to be Queen
Isabella II’s confessor. He obeyed unhappily. He and the queen agreed that he
would not live at the palace but come only to hear her confession and instruct
her children. This freed him to open a religious publishing house and write
more than two hundred books and pamphlets.
In 1886 a revolution took place, and those associated with the court fled to Rome where Vatican Council I was in session. There he defended the infallibility of the pope. Then he returned to a Cistercian monastery in France where he stayed in solitude until his death.
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Very often when we want to settle a problem quickly, we tend to look for compromising solutions or the easy way out. So in order to handle a problematic child, we tend to give things and money instead of spending time with the child and trying to understand the real needs of the child. And when we see something not right being done, we tend to look away and pretend not to see. We tend to play-safe and not to get involved, as long as it does not concern us. Even if it does concern us, we will want to protect ourselves first. But that was not what Jesus did. Jesus knew what His Father wanted Him to do and say, and He was committed to His mission. Jesus did not want to have conflicts. In fact, he came to gather people into the peace of God's kingdom. But when conflicts and oppositions came, He refused to compromise. For Jesus, there are no play-safe and guarded options or messages. He was on fire for love and truth, for righteousness and justice. If we are to follow Jesus, then we too must be prepared for conflicts and oppositions whenever they arise. Yet the first conflict and opposition will come from within ourselves. We have to be prepared to go through the fire that Jesus brings so that we will burn away the option of compromising solutions and the easy way out. Only then will we understand the freedom and peace of living in the truth.
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Let us Pray: Lord our God, you have set us free in Christ, free from our selfishness, free from shame and fear, free for life and service. God, accept our thanks for this free gift. Give us the strength, day after day, to grow in this liberty and to help our little or large world to attain the same freedom from sin and its consequences: from injustice, suffering, and oppression. One day may we be completely free in your eternal home, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen
