Paul talks about charity: Make love the root and foundation of life.
In his last speech before he was assassinated, Martin Luther King, as if he had a premonition of death, spoke about his funeral. He said: “If you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell him not to talk too long. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred awards. That’s not important.
“Tell them . . . that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to say on that day that I tried to love and serve humanity.” What Martin Luther King was saying is what Paul is saying in today’s reading. He is saying that he tried to make charity “the root and foundation” of his life.
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To what extent can we say that charity, or love, is “the root and foundation” of our life? “When the evening of life comes, we will be judged by love.” John of the Cross
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Very often, when we want to settle a problem quickly, we tend to look for compromising solutions or the easy way out. So in order to handle a problematic child, we tend to give things and money instead of spending time with the child and trying to understand the real needs of the child. And when we see something not right being done, we tend to look away and pretend not to see. We tend to play-safe and not to get involved, as long as it does not concern us. Even if it does concern us, we will want to protect ourselves first. But that was not what Jesus did. Jesus knew what His Father wanted Him to do and say, and He was committed to His mission. Jesus did not want to have conflicts. In fact, he came to gather people into the peace of God's kingdom. But when conflicts and oppositions came, He refused to compromise. For Jesus, there are no play-safe and guarded options or messages. He was on fire for love and truth, for righteousness and justice. If we are to follow Jesus, then we too must be prepared for conflicts and oppositions whenever they arise. Yet the first conflict and opposition will come from within ourselves. We have to be prepared to go through the fire that Jesus brings so that we will burn away the option of compromising solutions and the easy way out. Only then will we understand the freedom and peace of living in the truth.
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Let us Pray: Lord our God, you have set us free in Christ, free from our selfishness, free from shame and fear, free for life and service. God, accept our thanks for this free gift. Give us the strength, day after day, to grow in this liberty and to help our little or large world to attain the same freedom from sin and its consequences: from injustice, suffering, and oppression. One day may we be completely free in your eternal home, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen
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OCTOBER 22: POPE SAINT JOHN PAUL II
Saint John Paul II is perhaps one of the most well-known pontiffs in recent history, and is most remembered for his charismatic nature, his love of youth and his world travels, along with his role in the fall of communism in Europe during his 27-year papacy.
The Nazi occupation forces closed the university in 1939 and young Karol had to work in a quarry (1940-1944) and then in the Solvay chemical factory to earn his living and to avoid being deported to Germany.
In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Krakow, run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Krakow. At the same time, Karol Wojtyla was one of the pioneers of the “Rhapsodic Theatre,” also clandestine.
The Cardinals elected him Pope at the Conclave of 16 October 1978, and he took the name of John Paul II. On 22 October, the Lord’s Day, he solemnly inaugurated his Petrine ministry as the 263rd successor to the Apostle. His pontificate, one of the longest in the history of the Church, lasted nearly 27 years.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city’s 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994.
John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church.
He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals.
His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters.
He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
On April 27, 2014 he was canonized by Pope Francis during a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square.
