15th Sunday of the Year (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections for liturgical years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

July 13, 2014
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 55:10-11
Psalm 65
Romans 8:18-23
Matthew 13:1-23

The Lord said: "Mark well, then, the parable of the Sower."

Matthew's gospel helps to see the importance of God's Word - how it can produce fidelity to God, Church, family, and work. Each day is a challenge to produce a harvest not only for the family and the corporation, but most of all, for the Lord: to cultivate patience, kindness in the workplace, and prudence especially for a perilous time such as now. Prayer and the wisdom of experience teaches better ways to do one's job each day. Not all days are good. There can be misunderstanding, faith without depth, and anxiety-ridden situations that can choke off one's faith in God's Word. But if all strive to be "good soil", the Lord will certainly bless the work of everyone's hands.

Many lives prove that it is possible to hear God's Word and to live lives that are life-giving to others. The ordinary example of kind people around one's life and work is enough. St. Francis de Sales, the one who wrote "Introduction to the Devout Life", has an inspiring image in his book that proves being "good soil" is possible in the midst of a world where all sorts of vices and evils is seen or experienced. Below is St. Francis de Sales' quote:

"Just as fireflies pass through flames without burning their wings;
even so, a resolute person can live in the world without submitting
to its influence. He can fly through the flames of earthly attractions
without burning the wings of the holy desires of a devout life."

The temptation to lose patience, to worry or be anxiety-ridden of an uncertain future, due to disruptional change and environmental upheavals, can really "burn anyone's wings", if one is not careful. Resolution is the key. To be resolved to believe in Christ's word. Jesus says it well in the gospel: "Mark well, then, the parable of the Sower". Jesus repeats the central and important place of God's Word in our lives. To fully trust in His Word and His will can help avoid anxiety or fruitlessness in any work effort or responsibility in life. Placing one's life, work and family in the Lord's care will make all attentive to His word and let it achieve the the good harvest He wills of it.

Scripture quotes for reflection:
"God's Word shall not return to Him void, but shall do His will, achieving the end for which He sent it." (Isaiah 55)

Memorial of Saints (July 17)

St. Frederick became a priest at Utrecht and became known for his holiness and learning. Elected bishop in 825 A.D., he worked to put his diocese in order. He even sent missionaries to evangelize the pagan area in the northern part of his diocese. Because of his zeal, he got into loggerheads with the Empress, whom he reproached for her immorality. This may have caused his death from stab wounds. He was either killed by assassins sent by the Empress, or by pagans who resisted his evangelization activities (died ca. 838 A.D.).

The Blessed Martyrs of Campiegne were Carmelite nuns - 15 choir sisters and 3 lay sisters. After the French Revolution, all religious vows in France was not recognized by the law of the State. The sisters however decided to stay in their convent and not be involved with the new law of the State. In September 1792 A.D., the Sisters were ordered to leave their convent, and live as private citizens. When they refused to give up their religious way of living, they were arrested and imprisoned. They died as martyrs for the faith (died ca. 1794 A.D.).

St. Alexis married a wealthy Roman girl to please his parents. After his marriage, by mutual consent, he went to Syria and lived in solitude in a cell adjoined to a church dedicated to the Blessed Mother in Edessa. Because of the great austerities he practiced, when he went back home to his father, he was unrecognizable. Not knowing that the man was his son, his father gave him a job and a place to live under a staircase in his home. Unrecognized by all in his hometown, his identity was revealed only at his death when his autobiography was found and read (died ca. 5th century A.D.).

Sts. Marcellina, Speratus and Companions were the Sicilian martyrs. St. Marcellina was the sister of St. Ambrose, while St. Speratus was the spokesman for 4 other women and 6 other men. Arrested for being Christians, they were offered their freedom if they would give worship to the pagan gods. When they refused to renounce their Christian faith, they were sentenced to death. Theirs is the earliest existing account of martyrdom in the African Church (died ca. 180 A.D.).

St. Ennodius was married before he and his wife decided to part ways so that they can pursue vocations in the Church. Ennodius became a deacon, while his wife became a nun. In 514 A.D., Ennodius was appointed bishop of Ticinium. Although his political move to admonish the Emperor did not receive success, he was however successful in his help to the poor, in all his evangelical activities, and in building churches. He was also a prolific writer. Among his writings were: a biography on St. Antonius of Lerins, an autobiography, a handbook of rhetoric, poetry, and many letters of correspondence (died ca. 521 A.D.).

St. Kenelm was only seven years old when his father King Kenulf of Mercia died. Kenelm succeeded to his father's throne. However, his sister plotted to kill him so she could succeed to the throne. He was killed by Ascebert, his teacher. His dead body was enshrined in Gloucestershire. From then on, all kinds of marvels and miracles occurred at his grave (died ca. 812 A.D.).

St. Leo IV was elected Pope to succeed Sergius. He began to repair the fortifications of Rome to defend it against a possible Saracen attack. Leo IV was faced with many political problems to fix in his pontificate: the killing of his papal legate, the creation of a metropolitan see at Dol without his papal permission, and his refusal to confirm the political moves of Patriarch Ignatius of Constantinople. In 850 A.D., Leo IV crowned Louis, son of Emperor Lothair. In 853 A.D., he also crowned Alfred, son of King Ethelwulf of the West Saxons (died ca. 855 A.D.).

St. Clement of Okhrida became a bishop - the first Slav (from southern Macedonia) to become a bishop. Clement founded a monastery at Okhrida near Velitsa, Bulgaria. He received great success in his missionary work with the Bulgars that he came to be known as one of the Seven Apostles of Bulgaria (died ca. 916 A.D.).

St. Nerses Lampronazi was educated at Skeyra Monastery. After his father died, he was ordained but lived as a hermit for a time. In 1176 A.D., Nerses was consecrated archbishop of Tarsus. He worked for the reunion of the Armenian Church with Rome. This received success in 1198 A.D., but Nerses died six months after the reunion was officialized. St. Nerses was noted to also have translated St. Benedict of Nursia's Rule into Armenian (died ca. 1198 A.D.).

Blessed Hedwig of Poland succeeded to the throne of King Louis in 1382 A.D. She was married to a Lithuanian Duke - a marriage that began a 400-year alliance between Poland and Lithuania. Through the marriage, the Duke became a Christian and worked for the Christianization of the Lithuanian people. Blessed Hedwig died upon giving birth and is venerated by the Polish people (died ca. 1399 A.D.).

The Vita Apostolica in the High Middle Ages

Introduction

After the spiritual reform movement of Cluny in France, there were spiritual leaders who continued this reform movement. These were: St. Romuald of the Camaldolese Monk Hermits, and St. Bruno of the Carthusians, St. Nilus the Younger and St. John Gualbert (feast: July 12). These religious leaders and founders followed the ideal of the "vita apostolica". Other reformers also during this time were Robert of Abrissel and Vitalis of Tierceville. These leaders and many others worked in parts of Italy, north of the Alps, and much of Germany and France. The spiritual movement of reform they led brought a spirit of penitence and revived much religious fervor in Europe.

St. Nilus the Younger

Initially, Nilus lived a rather dissolute life with a woman from whom he had a child. When the woman and the child passed away, Nilus he joined the Byzantine Basilian monks of St. Adrian in Calabria, Italy. For a time, he lived as a hermit. Then he moved on to live in several Basilian monasteries until he became abbot of San Demetrio Corone. His saintly reputation spread and attracted many to become monks. In 981 A.D., Nilus was forced to flee due to the invading Saracens. He and his monks were given the monastery of Vallelucio. It was here were Nilus and his monks lived for about fifteen years. They soon were able to secure a grant of land from the Count of Tuscalum. This grant of land became the place to build and found the Basilian monastery of Grottaferra near Rome.

St. John Gualbert

John Gualbert was the founder of the Vallombrosian monks whose movement of spiritual rejuvenation began near Florence. Before this monastic community began, John entered the Benedictine monastery of San Miniato in Florence. He left this community and visited the hermitage of St. Romuald (founder of the Camaldolese Order). After this visit, John Gualbert decided to establish his own monastery. The place he chose was Vallombrosa. St. John Gualbert adopted a modified form of the primitive Rule of St. Benedict. His order had many members during the Middle Ages. This Order was reformed by St. John Leonardi in the 16th century.

Reform spirit overflows to secular clergy

The monastic reform movement that began at Cluny, and created the monastic Orders of Camaldolese, Carthusians, Vallambrosians, and Cistercians, also influenced the secular clergy at that time. And the canonical reform that occured in the 11th and 12th centuries brought a renewed pastoral spirit among the secular clerics. The most influential of these canonically reformed clergy were the Premonstratensians - founded by St. Norbert of Xanten.

Summary

The reform movement that started at the Benedictine monastery of Cluny gave birth to other reform movements - one of which was the "vita apostolica". Foremost among those who championed the "vita apostolica" ideal were: St. Nilus, St. John Gualbert, St. Romuald, and St. Bruno. This spirit of reform influenced St. Norbert of Xanten to found a monastery which was to serve as a community (not of monks) but of secular clergy living according to the Rule of St. Augustine.