*REFLECTION FOR THE MEMORIAL OF ST. GREGORY THE GREAT/* *SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II* 

Today, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the Church. As Pope, he governed the Church from 590-604. England owes her conversion to him, as he sent fellow monks to evanglize England; protected a lot during the babarian invasion of Europe, as well as watching over the holiness of the clergy and preserved ecclesiastical discipline. To him, the liturgy owes several of its finest prayers, and the name "Gregorian chant" recalls this great Pope's work in the development of the Church's chant. His commentaries on Holy Scripture exercised a considerable influence on Christian thought, particularly in the middle Ages. Together with St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, he is one of the four great doctors of the Latin Church. 

   In our liturgy today, we continue to embrace the ministry of Jesus whose purpose is to grant salvation to all. To do this, Jesus continues to explain that He is the center and both the law and the prophet all point to Him. The religious leaders continue today (Luke 6: 1-5) to challenge Jesus because of the actions of His disciples who were plugging corn and eating on a Sabbath. Jesus' response as the Lord of the Sabbath implies that any law standing against a closer relationship with Him as the Lord, is not of any necessity. In the same vein, all the laws in the Church are to be geared towards the salvation of soul, "which must always be the supreme law in the Church" (Can. 1752). 

   St. Paul admonishes the Corithians (1 Cor 4: 6-15) to remain grateful and boast only in the Lord. All they have are but gifts from God. How do I use the gifts given to me? 

   Dear friends, our justification depends on our perseverance in faith and manifestation of such faith in our relationship with God, other human beings and the environment. Our response to God's commandments should be a response in love of what God has done for us, not for fear of punishment nor the desire for reward. Does my interpretation and obedience to the law put strain on others' close relationship with God? 

   I pray as we journey in life today, we will continue to seek through perseverance in faith, a closer relationship with Jesus, in Whom alone is our salvation assured. May no observance of any human law stand against our oneness with Christ today. Have a steadfastness-full day!