9/30/2013 – St Jerome – Monday of 26th week in Ordinary Time – Luke 9:46-50

       Wanting to be a servant of the Lord rather than wanting to be the greatest. Doing good works in the name of the Lord rather than just sitting around and being complacent.  These are two themes I see in the Gospel today. Having fervor and enthusiasm in our faith is an important part of living as a disciple of Christ.  St Jerome, a priest and doctor of the Church whom we celebrate today on his feast day, was known for his great passion and fervor for the faith.  Jerome, born in the late 4^th century, is known for his extensive theological writings and for his Latin translation of the Bible, known as the Vulgate.  In fact, Jerome spent the last 34 years of his life as a hermit in the desert near Bethlehem, devoted to his literary output.  Jerome’s love of Sacred Scripture is reflected in this quote – “Ignorance of the Scriptures is an ignorance of Christ.”  With the intercessions and prayers of St Jerome, may we grow in our love of Sacred Scripture.  May we grow to know the Jesus of the Gospels and the Jesus in the reality of our daily lives.  May we be fervent and enthusiastic in our faith in the context of our personalities and the gifts that God gives to us.