The Feast of St Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

"Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him." (Matthew 13: 54 - 57).

Friday 30th July 2021, in the 17th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Peter Chrysologus. (406 - 450). Italian. Bishop and Doctor of the Church. St Peter Chrysologus was the Bishop of Ravenna. At a time when the Church was faced with the scourge of the Monophysite heresy, St Peter Chrysologus defended the two natures in Jesus Christ: Human nature and Divine nature. His theological teaching and preaching are characterized by exceptional clarity. Peter came down to us from history as a great homilist and his theological work on the nature of the Incarnation and the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in salvation history has lasting value.

Our key Scripture for today is the sad rejection of Jesus in His hometown. Jesus taught in the Synagogue with eloquence and clarity. Yet He was rejected. Not because of the content or style of His teaching but because of who He is. First, the Messenger is rejected. Then the Message is discarded.

How can we find meaning on what happened in Nazareth on this Sabbath day?
"Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’  He answered, ‘An enemy has done this." (Matthew 13: 27 - 28).

The Devil, deceiver of all mankind pursued Jesus relentlessly during His public ministry. The murderer and father of lies continues to pursue the Church today everywhere. Jesus asks us to have courage because He has overcome the world.

"The redemption is the work of love. I loved in the face of hatred. I loved in the face of death. I loved even in the netherworld, where the just of the ages awaited My coming among them. It is by love that I vanquished hell, by love that I triumphed over death, by love that I undid what Satan, in his envy, had plotted against the creatures whom I so love and whom My Father destined for the praise of His glory." (IN SINU JESU page 135).

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