3 September 2026 - homily for Thursday of the 23rd week in ordinary time - St Gregory the Great - 1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13

Today, September 3, is the feast day of St Gregory the Great (540 – 604).   James Barmby, a Church historian writes:  “It is impossible to conceive what would have been the confusion, the lawlessness, the chaotic state of the Middle Ages without the medieval papacy; and of the medieval papacy, the real father is Gregory the Great.”  During the lifetime of St Gregory the Great, it must have felt like Christianity was being attacked on just about every front, including the Goths who were invading Rome. In the Church, Gregory the Great’s liturgical reforms and the strengthening of Church Doctrine helped Christianity survive and pass down the faith to future generations. The Gregorian Chant style of music is famously named after him. Pope Gregory ordered a compilation of melodies of Christian hymns and chants sung throughout the Christian world, organized by the Schola Cantorum, which provided music for the Pope in all his liturgical services. Yet, in all that he had to address as Pope, Gregory the Great never forgot the love and mercy of God. He is quoted as saying:  “The proof of love is in the works.  Where love exists, it works great things.  But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.”   We celebrate the feast day of St Gregory the Great today with great joy.  

I have enjoyed the readings from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians we have been hearing in our daily masses. Today, the Corinthians face a curious dilemma: Should they eat food that has been given as an offering to a foreign idol?  Could they accept eat such food while at a pagan household or temple?  Would they compromise their Christian faith by eating such food?  St Paul tells the Corinthians that there is no need to worry about food offered to idols, because the idols do not represent anything. There is only one God. Those idols are not God. In the ancient world, there were many false gods and pagan idols, but the followers of Jesus know that they did not have any real existence. Although St Paul has no problems himself eating such meat, he resolves to not eat such meat so it would not be a source of scandal to other members of the community, especially those who are faced with temptations. St Paul is acting pastorally and out of love. And it all comes down to love. That is to be at the center of our faith.