This is our third reading from Paul’s letter to the Colossians that we are hearing in daily Mass, yet we are still in the first chapter of this letter. I mentioned earlier in the week that Paul was addressing a heresy that was rampant in the Christian community in Colossae, which put the cosmic power of God in a more important place that Jesus Christ, the Son. This passage we hear today is a response to that heresy. It is perhaps taken from an early Church hymn which extols the supremacy of Christ. It addresses the supremacy of Christ in both creation and in our redemption.
As we hear Paul’s beautiful writing today, we honor a saint who perhaps is most associated with the beautiful Gregorian chants that are named after him: Pope Gregory the Great, who served as pope from 590 until 604. With “the Great” attached to his name, we know the high esteem in which he is held in the Church. Gregory the Great came from noble Roman family, but Gregory lived in an era in which the glory days of Rome were far behind. After serving as a civil servant in the city of Rome, including as the prefect of that city, he later served the Church in different positions before being named Pope. We think of the challenges the Church faces today, but Gregory himself led the Church in a time of plague, war, and famine. Besides the liturgical reforms and the plain song chant that characterized his papacy, he also helped strengthen the system of monasticism and sent the first missionaries to the British Isles. As we honor Gregory the Great and celebrate his great accomplishments that came in some very challenging times, may we unite our prayer with his prayers and intercession.
No comments:
Post a Comment