Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bp. D. (01st August, 2017) on the Gospel
and the Memorial
Ex 33:7-11; 34:5-9.28;
Ps 102:6-13. (R. v.8);
Matt 13:36-43.
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: ...the furnace of fire.
Jesus’ disciples approached Him in today’s gospel with a
request to explain to them the parable of the weeds in the field which we read
last Saturday. He said to them,
The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field
is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are
the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the
harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
All causes of sin and all evil doers will be gathered and
thrown into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth. On the other hand, the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom
of their Father.
Most often, when we meet this furnace of fire where all the
causes of sin and all evil doers will be thrown into, we pass them unnoticed.
It is impossible to explain this in mortal language because every fire we
experience results from the goodness of God, cf. Gen 1:31. And whenever it goes wrong, the fire service can assist.
Yet no right-thinking human dares to play with even as little as the light of a
candle.
The furnace of fire was ignited by God’s anger for torment,
cf. Rev 14:10. And no fire service
can assist because it can never be quenched, cf. Mk 9:48. Prophet Nahum questions, “Who can stand before his
indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like
fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him” (Nah 1:6). And our Lord warns,
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw
it away.... if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away;
it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go
into hell (Matt 5:29-30).
The furnace in question is not bearable. Let us therefore
follow the example of Saint Alphonsus Liguori and prove ourselves children of the
kingdom. Whoever fails to do so will have him/herself to blame.
Bible Reading: Mk 9:42-48.
Thought for today: All causes of sin and evil doers are destined for
the fires of hell.
Let us pray: Lord, through the intercession of Saint
Alphonsus Liguori, help us to avoid the furnace of fire – Amen.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori – Pray for us.
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