Why Peace is Lacking

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year 1 and the Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, September 13th, 2021
Texts: 1 Tim. 2:1-8; Ps. 28:2.7-9; Luke 7:1-10
Today's Readings reveal why peace is rare this day. This is clear in today's first reading, as St. Paul says, "First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way." For our world to know peace we must learn to pray for those in authority. Today we turn against those who are in authority and rain curses on them but we indirectly receive the impact of the curses in the lack of security of life and property. Let us pray for them, at least for our own sake. God does not deal with sinners as we always expect it; He is always patient with sinners, giving them time to repent because God wills that everyone should be saved. St. Paul, in the first reading, puts it thus: "God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." Let us learn to pray for our leaders that we may have peace and lead a quiet life.
Today's gospel reading shows us that it is not the subjects alone that should pray for their leaders; the leaders also should learn from the centurion who interceded for his servants. The leaders must value their subjects and have concern for their welfare. We could imagine the kind of love and care the servant of the centurion enjoyed from his master. I have no doubt in me that the servant must have been good and loving towards his master too. Let us pray for our leaders that we may enjoy such love and care from them. The leaders must also love and care for their subjects that they may enjoy goodness and love from them.
One thing that also stands out in today's gospel reading is the correlation between humility and faith. Jesus Christ accorded the centurion faith for his humility. Humility is the recognition of one's state or status and not exalting oneself above it. The humility of the man is evident in his word: "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed." Considering his status, he is truly a humble man to have uttered such word; only a humble man of his status could utter such word. Jesus termed that an expression of deep faith. It is said, "When Jesus heard this he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that followed him, 'I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.'” Jesus has always termed the expression of humility to be faith. This shows that there is no faith without humility; faith manifests in humility. Without humility we cannot acknowledge the power of God or the power above us.
St. John Chrysostom, whose memorial is today, was a leader and man of prayer. He lived a life of contemplation asceticism in a remote mountain wilderness. He is nicknamed "golden mouth" because of the influence of his teaching. Thomas Pazhayampallil writes, "His teaching, steeped in the Word of God  and contemplation of Christ's mystery, was expressed in clear, convincing, concrete terms, challenging Christians of all centuries to make those choices essential to their salvation and to the bringing about of 'justice'" (Words of Eternal Life,  pp. 240-241).

Help us, Lord, to love and pray for one another that peace may be abound  in our world. Amen. St. John Chrysostom, pray for us.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke