O great teacher of the Catholic faith

who served to set a foundation

upon which she could grow

in peace and in truth,

in the Spirit of God,

you who valiantly defended her

against attacks of heresy

and shed your blood

in the battle –

pray we shall find shepherds today

to explicate the faith of the apostles

as clearly

and loyally

as you have done,

that none shall be led astray

into false doctrine

by whim and fancy,

by pride and envy,

but drink rather the pure milk

of our Mother

and of the one true God.

To vision of the Father let us come

by revelation of His only-begotten Son.

(Gn.18:16-33;   Ps.103:1-4,8-11;   Mt.8:18-22)

“While the two men walked on farther toward Sodom,

the Lord remained standing before Abraham.”

“Then Abraham drew nearer to Him…”

A marvelous scene.  First, as Abraham walks along with the Lord, we hear the Lord’s thoughts.  The Lord wishes to share His plans with him, not to act apart from His blessed one.  He tells Abraham of the imminent destruction of Sodom, knowing he will be concerned for his kinsman, Lot.  The Lord then stops and stands still, granting Abraham opportunity to speak.  In great humility, but with the strength provided by God, he petitions the Lord.  And the Lord is pleased to hear him.  He is pleased that Abraham recognizes the justice of God, and He is satisfied with his fear in approaching Him: “I am but dust and ashes!” exclaims Abraham, and comes to each question with trepidation, pausing in silence before each to hear in that silence the Lord calling him to ask further.  The Lord hears and answers his prayer to spare Lot.

Evident in this scene is the psalmist’s words: “Merciful and gracious is the Lord.”  How patient and kind and forbearing.  How He desires that we draw near to Him and share in His will.  And how forgiving is He: “He pardons all your iniquities…  He redeems your life from destruction.”  For Lot He shall spare from that evil land; indeed, to all who repent He shows His favor.  His promise is sure.

But we must come to Him in the humility of Abraham.  We must not approach Him as does the scribe in our gospel, proclaiming so boldly and so foolishly his willingness to follow Jesus, yet knowing nothing of the glory of God and what following Him entails.  Nor must we come so shakily as the disciple who makes excuses.  Upon hearing of the difficulties, he attempts to put off following Christ for a time…  There is but one time with God, and it is present, and it is now.  We must come to Him in humility and find the strength His grace provides as He draws us to Himself.

There is a time to speak, brothers and sisters – a time to speak and a manner of speaking.  It is not right to speak until the Lord stops to listen.  We must wait on Him and His grace.  One does not burst into the court of a king unannounced proclaiming his loyalty to Him who sits on the throne.  One waits until called and then pours out one’s heart, trusting in the compassion of the Lord.

It is His desire to share with us all His works.  It is His pleasure to hear our good prayers.  But let us realize to whom we speak and come in true faith and humility; and He will hear and answer all our petitions, and we will become sharers in His promised glory.

*******

O LORD, in the Day of Judgment

you will spare those who walk with your Son.

YHWH, how kind and merciful you are, for you stop to listen to our prayers; you desire to share with us your plans.  What are we but dust and ashes?  And yet you make us your own sons and shower your blessings upon us.  Be so kind as to answer our call to save all those in need.

Your Son you send to us, LORD, to walk among us and lead us to you, our Father in Heaven.  And so, all things of this earth we must leave behind if we are to walk in His way, if we are to rest with you in the heavenly kingdom.

But we are weak, dear God, so weak and so blind.  We know not what it is you ask of us, and are afraid to come to your side.  Draw us unto you, LORD, in your kindness; in your compassion help us to approach you with our plea.  Without your help we shall not find the salvation you wish to share with us poor creatures.  Without your grace we cannot follow your Son.