MEMORIAL OF ST. JEROME
Today’s Gospel Jesus exhorts the spiritual leaders as well as all believers in responsible positions in the Church to be like children, humble, trusting, and innocent. Children are basically innocent and honest. They are naturally humble, because they depend on their parents for everything. They trust and obey their parents because they know their parents love them. Hence, Jesus advises his disciples to forget their selfish ambitions and to spend their lives serving others in all humility, with trusting Faith in a loving and providing God. Then they will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Again, Jesus tells his disciples that there should not be any rivalry, jealousy, or suspicion among them, as long as all hold the same belief. In today’s passage, the apostles, upset by seeing someone who did not belong to their group using Jesus’ name to cast out demons, complain to Jesus. Since the present-day divisions in Christianity are substantive, rising from differences over the basic tenets of Faith, today’s Gospel passage does not apply to them. But there is no reason for any Christian denomination to be jealous of another denomination because of the greater good they do for people for the glory of God. True love seeks the highest good of our neighbor, while envy results from selfishness and pride, and it is contrary to true Christian love.
Dear brothers and sisters, just like St. Jerome whose memorial we celebrate was a man of knowledge and humility. He worked tirelessly for the church. Many interpretations of the scriptures was done by him. He translated the Bible to what we know as Vulgate. He was indeed a scholar and a man who lies the church. We need to practice humility in thoughts, words and actions. “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart.”
2) We should not seek recognition and recompense for the service we do for Christ and the Church as parents, teachers, pastors, etc.
3) Trusting Faith, both causing and resulting from true humility, is essential for all corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
4) Let us not try to prevent anyone from doing good to others because of envy or jealousy. Envy and jealousy are sinful because they lead us to sadness over what should make us rejoice. True love always seeks the highest good of the neighbor.
May St. Jerome continue to intercede for us. Amen
PAX VOBIS
Catholic Diocese of Ilorin, Kwara State,
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