8/16/2016 – Tuesday of the 20th week of Ordinary Time - St Roch - Matthew 19:23-30

     Today's readings warn us how the excessive attachment to riches can lead us away from the Gospel message.  Jesus speaks about how our attachment to the earthly goods of this world can be an obstacle to us in attaining eternal life. For all of us as Catholics, in our lives of faith, participating in charitable works of mercy as fruits out of our journeys of faith can really helped us realize what is most important in life. And sometimes these works of mercy don’t need to complicated or on a huge scale.  When the youth were talking about the upcoming school year of CYO and religious education, talking about the subject of service, several of the youth mentioned that their favorite service project of last year involved bringing chocolate chip cookies and snacks to the policemen, firemen, Mayor Shelton, and other public servants in our city of Tupelo.  No matter what work of charity or mercy we engage in, reaching out to others helps us experience God in a very real way in our lives, giving us the means to live out the values of the Gospel in our lives. 

      Today happens to the be the feast day of a member of our community of saints who appeals to my heart and my imagination in a very real way – St Roch, who is also known as St Rocco or St Roque.  He lived way back in the 13th century in France.  His father, the governor of Montpellier in France, died when Roch was 20, spurring Roch to go on a pilgrimage to Rome.  Legend has it that Roch cared for the victims of the plague in Rome and in various other cities until he came down with the plague himself.  He was banished to the forest for the fear people had of this affliction, where he set up a small shelter where he lived.  The dog of one of the villagers had pity on Roch, coming to visit him each day, bringing him a piece of bread in his mouth to eat and licking his sores.  Roch recovered from the plague, but was imprisoned when he came back to Montpellier, having been accused of being a spy.   Roch refused to divulge his true identity, not wanting to revel in the glory of the world, and he died while imprisoned.  Roch’s interesting story and example of holy life made him a very popular saint in Europe in the Middle Ages.  There is a major shrine dedicated to him in the city of Venice, Italy.  Roch is the patron saint of dogs and of those who are unjustly accused.   As Roch responded to the reality he faced with compassion and works of charity, let his example inspire us in the way we approach our journey of faith.