Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, B.D (1st August, 2016) on the Gospel and
the Memorial
Jer 28:1-17;
Ps 118:29.43.79-80.95.102. (R. v.68); Matt 14:13-21.
Saint
Alphonsus Liguori (September 27, 1696 - August 1, 1787) was raised by a devout
mother. He received his doctorate at the age of sixteen but later dropped
secular life and was ordained on December 21, 1726. Saint Alphonsus founded the
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) on November 9, 1732. He
accepted the papal command to accept the see of St. Agatha of the Goths near
Naples in 1762. For thirteen years he fed the poor, instructed families,
reorganized the seminary and religious houses, taught theology, and wrote. His
austerities were rigorous, and he suffered daily the pain from rheumatism. In
1780, he was tricked into signing a submission for royal approval of his
congregation which altered the original rule. Alphonsus was beatified in 1816,
canonized in 1839, and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in
1871. His writings on moral, theological, and ascetic matters especially his
Moral Theology and his Glories of Mary had great impact and have survived
through the years. He is the patron of confessors, moral theologians, and the
lay apostolate.[1]
Topic: Caring for humankind.
On hearing about the death of John, Jesus went to a deserted
place where He met a great crowd. He had compassion for them and cured their
sick. In the evening, the disciples came up with this suggestion, “This is a
deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may
go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus replied, “They
need not go away; you give them something to eat.” And not even the fact that
they had only five loaves and two fish could change this. He took the five
loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed, broke, and gave them to His
disciples who shared them to the crowds already seated. After the crowds had
their fill, they filled twelve baskets with the leftover.
God created humankind, cf. Gen 1:27; 2:7, 21-22. And every human being is made up of body and
soul. And since creation, God cares for the whole person as replete in the
bible. In the gospels especially, Jesus never forgot any part of human being. He
also empowered His ministers to follow suit, cf. Matt 10:5-8; Lk 10:5-9.
Often, many tend to focus their whole attention on the soul and
forget the body. And like the apostles, we always have so many reasons to support
this. However, it is not right to take care of the soul and forget the body, and
vice versa.
Saint Alphonsus
Liguori we celebrate is a very good example. He followed the example of Christ
and never forgot any part of human being. Hence, he fed the poor, instructed
families, reorganized the seminary and religious houses, taught theology, wrote,
and many more.
Bible Reading: 1Jn 3:11-24.
Thought for today: God loves and cares for human beings.
Let us pray: Lord, help us to care for the whole person
and not for one part or another – Amen.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori – Pray for us.
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