(REMEMBER TO PRAY IN THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR YOUR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED).
COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO NEVER ALLOW THE GATES OF HELL TO PREVAIL AGAINST YOUR CHURCH, FIRMLY FOUNDED ON THE APOSTOLIC ROCK, GRANT HER, WE PRAY, THAT THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF POPE SAINT LEO, SHE MAY STAND FIRM IN YOUR TRUTH AND KNOW THE PROTECTION OF LASTING PEACE. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Titus 2:1-8,11-14; Ps 36:3-4,18,23,27,29 and Lk 17:7-10.
Pope St. Leo the Great, whose feast we celebrate today, was raised by God to the throne of St. Peter in 440. This was a critical time in the Church’s history, when the Western Empire was disintegrating, and the Eastern Church was profoundly disturbed by dogmatic controversies and speculations. Pope Leo the Great was a farsighted and wise Pontiff. He became one of the three Popes whom we honour with the title of “The Great”: Pope St. Gregory I and Pope St. Nicholas I. Pope Leo the Great took sharp measures against the subtle infiltration of heresies into Italy and Spain. He condemned, in his dogmatic letter (Tomos), Monophysitism and Eutychianism (heresies) in the East, clearly setting forth the Church’s doctrine that Christ is one person but possesses two distinct natures, the divine and the human.
This condemnation received a spontaneous acclamation by some 600 Eastern Bishops as: “Peter has spoken by Leo”. Leo the Great reformed the Church’s discipline and maintained the primacy of Rome. His reign witnessed the calamitous barbarian incursions of Attila, “The Scourge of God”, from the north in 452, and of Genseric from Africa in 445. Pope St. Leo the Great had it that, “Thy Cross, O Lord, is the source of all blessings, the cause of all graces; by it the faithful find strength in weaknesses, glory in shame, life in death” (St. Leo). These very words of Saint Leo the Great have some bearing in the scriptures we reflect on today.
Today’s readings seriously challenge, as well as urge all categories of people in the Church and in the communities (the older men, older women, younger women and younger men), regarding good behaviours and character in the Church and in the community. Having people of all ages or categories in the society and in the Church in particular makes it strong, but it is also a potentially problematic society/community, especially if people do not behave well or if the various categories of people do not have good character and manners.
One thing that makes a society/community “liveable” and peaceable for everyone is when people’s lives are exemplary, and others can imitate them. Therefore, St. Paul urges Titus to be a good example to those around him so that others might see Titus’ good works and deeds and imitate him. Paul’s life would give his words greater impact. Indeed, and very importantly, if I want someone to act in a certain way, I must be sure I live and act that way myself. This is what we call ‘Life Witnessing’ or living by example. If my life is a witness and an example to people, then I will earn the right to be heard, and my life will reinforce what I do and teach. We must, however, start this from our homes/families and workplaces before we can carry it out to the whole world, for “charity begins at home”.
There is this adage that, “Actions speak louder than words”. This adage is self-explanatory, and this cannot be overemphasised. Some qualities we need to cultivate to be (role) models, worthy of emulation wherever we find ourselves, are: to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, lovable, and patient in endurance. We should be reverent in our behaviour. We should not be slanderers and drunkards. Rather, we should teach the good, not only in theory, but by putting it into practice. We should be blameless before God the Father.
Let us pray that our lives may be worthy of emulation and that people we live with may see our good lives, through the good deeds we perform in their midst, and imitate us. We also pray to exercise the spirit of humility in whatever deeds or actions we perform. The spirit of humility will help us know and understand that whatever we do in this world, we are merely performing what we are obliged to do as “unprofitable servants” (Cf. Lk 17:7-10). Otherwise, we may eventually find ourselves boasting and bragging, which is sinful. May Saint Leo intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the name Leo.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, TUESDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “BE PLEASED, O LORD, WE PRAY, TO GOVERN THE CHURCH YOU HAVE NOURISHED BY THIS HOLY MEAL, SO THAT, FIRMLY DIRECTED, SHE MAY ENJOY EVER GREATER FREEDOM AND PERSEVERE IN INTEGRITY OF RELIGION. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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