DELIVERED

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Today's Readings:

Colossians 1:1-8

Psalm 52:10-11

Luke 4:38-44

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Do you realise that demonic oppression is a thing? God sent His Son into the world to free us from the Devil’s oppression, to enthrone God’s kingdom and establish us as His children. This is what Jesus does when, in the Gospel, he heals Peter’s mother-in-law of an illness. When others learnt of this, they brought their sick, some brought those who were possessed by demons, and he cured them all. Jesus goes on to show that deliverance from sickness and possession is not enough. At daybreak, he went to a lonely place to pray, to spend moments of intimacy with His Father. Jesus came to restore what sin had broken. And then proceeds to give us the formula by which we can remain in touch with divine grace; it is in prayer, contemplation and the sacraments (Communion) that we encounter God and are rooted in Him. Once rooted in grace,  we begin to see clearly the things which open us up to the operation of the devil. We also begin to see clearly what is wrong in our environment and take steps to fix it. Just as Peter’s mother-in-law resumed her service upon her healing, we ought to mend broken relationships and use our gifts to serve wherever we find ourselves. Upon encountering Christ’s healing power in the sacraments, we ought to live differently and impact our world through God’s grace residing in us.

Today, we celebrate the feast of one of the great Fathers and Doctors of the Church: Saint Gregory the Great. A Benedictine monk, he became the first monk to ascend to the papacy, serving as pope (the 64th Bishop of Rome) from 3 September 590 until his death on 12 March 604. He was born into a wealthy and noble family. His father, Gordianus, was a senator and held high office in the city, and his mother, Silvia, is also honoured as a saint. From this patrician background, Gregory received an excellent education, especially in law and administration, preparing him for a career in public service. By his early thirties, he had already risen to become Prefect of Rome, the highest civil position in the city. Yet despite his success, Gregory felt drawn to a life of prayer and simplicity. After his father’s death, he gradually turned away from political ambitions. He converted his family’s estates in Rome into monasteries, one of which was dedicated to Saint Andrew on the Caelian Hill, where he himself became a monk. This radical choice, of a senator’s son turning into a humble Benedictine monk, shaped his spirituality and impacted people around Him.

Gregory is remembered as the “Father of Christian Worship” because of his reforms to the Roman liturgy, which shaped the life of the Church for centuries. Many of us know his name most readily through Gregorian chant, the style of sacred music associated with him. For this reason, he is honoured as the patron saint of musicians, singers, teachers, and students.

                                                                                    JUDE-MARY OWOH

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To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”

 If you said the prayer, Congratulations! You are welcome to the body of Christ. Prayerfully seek out a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor, or priest.

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Prayer:

1. Eternal Father, thank you for delivering me from the oppression of sin, satanic influence and death.

2. Thank you for the graces which flow to me daily through prayer and participation in the sacraments. By your grace, may I desire to always be united with you.

3. Teach me to serve others by my good deeds and never let me be separated from you. Amen.