Memorial of St. Gregory the Great
Theme: Service: In humility
Today the church celebrates the memorial of St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the church. St. Gregory had the epithet “The Great” added to his name because he was both a great Writer and a Ruler. He was from a privileged background and used the properties of the family to establish different monasteries. In humility, he served the people and did not allow his privileged situation to make him arrogant or look down on other people. His person and way of life is worthy of emulation, by all of us as children of God. His achievements did not make him arrogant, both in the public service and in the church; rather he became a better person to the Glory of God. As we celebrate him today, it is an opportunity for us to imbibe some of his wonderful attributes that will help us to serve in humility and also become good children of God. His situation is that of a person who became more humble as he continued to occupy greater positions in the church. He did not allow his success to get into his head, such that he begins to look down on people; he rather helped to uplift all those who came in contact with him in one way or the other. This is one of the things we can resolve to emulate from him as we celebrate him today; add value to the lives of all those who encounter you at one point or the other in your life.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, we also see St. Paul saying a similar thing in his 1st letter to the Corinthians. Paul admonishes us to guide against pride in our life, because whatever we think we have that is puffing us up, is simply a gift from God. So where is the pride coming from? Just like St. Gregory the Great that we celebrate today, my dear friends in Christ, learn to appreciate the blessings of God that you enjoy as a gift from God. Never allow it to get into your head and you become arrogant and look down on other people you think does not belong to your class. Going by the admonition of St. Paul, we should see ourselves as servants of God, and be humble in our service; instead of been arrogant as if everything depends on us.
Dearly beloved in Christ, humility is a priceless virtue that we all have to imbibe in our lives as children of God. May Almighty God bless us today through the intercession of St. Gregory the Great in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.