Today we remember Saint Bishop Charles Borromeo. His major work was enhancing education of laity and the priesthood on the ways of the faith, as the church was experiencing challenging times during his life in the mid-1500s. He believed that by properly knowing our faith, we could properly practice our faith. It is rumored that he started “Sunday School” for kids, but also opened seminaries to train future priests, and to also instruct current priests and nuns. He had an uncle who was Pope, so that is quite a Catholic family. Saint Borromeo is the patron saint of bishops, seminarians, and catechists. Perhaps he can come to the aid of me, and my fellow catechists. Saint Borromeo, pray for us!
Seating Chart
Today’s Gospel is the parable about seating position at a wedding. This is appropriate, as my wife and I just celebrated the marriage of our eldest daughter a few weeks ago. Great care was taken on seating charts for dinner to avoid a situation like in this Bible reading. The story line is about not taking a position of honor by yourself, as the host of the wedding could displace you for someone “more important.” Someone seated in the “back” can be brought forward to fill your spot. It is embarrassing to get relegated to a seat or position of lower prestige, especially in a group setting like a wedding feast. Your vision of your own importance is clearly a mismatch from the leader of the wedding, and this can be on full display.
I am not sure if this reading impacts the habit of Catholics tending to fill the back of the church first, and then filling it forward. Rarely are folks sent back from a prime seat, except during major church holidays when seats are “saved.” We are all special and esteemed guests at Mass, so should be near the front. During certain events, like weddings, the front seats are reserved, but that makes sense. As your faith in action project for this week, the next time you go to Mass, sit 50% closer to the front than usual, and then 50% closer to the front the time after that. Odds are you will not get relegated but heed the “reserved” signs. Be closer to the altar, the place of honor. Plenty of room up front!
Be Exalted or Be Humbled
God’s way is not always our way. The world encourages us to exalt ourselves and pump ourselves up for others to see. God takes a counter view of this, as in the reading. His view is that if you exalt yourself, you will be humbled. However, if you humble yourself, you will be exalted.
At the GVM Grace Day event, we played a video of our local Bishop, Luis Zarama. He reminded us to stay humble and quiet in our works at GVM, as this shows God’s love. It also shows humbleness, which is perhaps not appreciated in today’s world, but is strong in God’s eyes. We certainly want to be in the front seats at God’s banquet, and not moved to the back. We will want to be exalted when our day arrives, and being exalted by God is all that really matters in the end.
Remain Blessed.
