We are handling noble tasks

 

A noble task requires a noble man.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 24th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, September 19th, 2023
Texts: 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Psalm 101:1-3,5,6; Luke 7:11-17 

St. Paul speaks to us today who are in positions of authority in His Church. He reminds us that we are handling noble tasks. A noble task requires a noble man to handle it. Hence, what St. Paul tells us about bishop are the qualities of a noble man. He is above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way. 

Some of us leaders are suffering some of these qualities, today. The loss of these qualities by those of us who are leaders are cause for worry and weeping. In today’s gospel the loss of her only son was the cause of the widow’s weeping. For us it is loss of virtues that is the cause of our weeping. We weep today over neglect of teaching, sexual scandals, love of money, indifference, etc. Let us turn to Jesus and He will wipe away our tears. He said to the widow of Nain, “Do not weep”. He is the great prophet in whom God has visited His people.  

Jesus displayed hospitality 

Every authority is a means of encountering God by being noble. One of the attributes of being noble is hospitality. Jesus displayed hospitality by raising from the dead the son of the widow. We read, “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’" This tells us that authority is for the good of the people, not to oppress, exploit and assault them. We are to use authority to wipe away tears, console the sorrowful, set free the oppressed and captives. Authority is meant to set people free from ignorance through teaching.  

Prayer 

God our Father, from whom all authorities come, help our leaders to be righteous; help them to use their authority for the good of the people, to wipe away tears. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke