7th Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Friday - "Do not complain about one another"

 Our spiritual director in seminary, Fr. John Loya, always used to say that we must avoid the ABCs: arguing, blaming, and complaining. ABC. Whether it’s with family, strangers, fellow seminarians, or parishioners, avoid the ABCs, arguing, blaming, and complaining.

St. James, in our first reading, gives a similar teaching: “Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another.”

It is acceptable to grieve over the difficulties of life, and to cry to God over the injustices we suffer. There is an entire book of the Old Testament, the book of Lamentations, which consists of anguished cries over the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. Many of Psalms consist of lamentation. To bring ones miseries, ones trials and tribulations to God, can be a holy thing. We should bring to God our concerns, for the people of Ukraine, for example, our concerns for innocent life, and peace, and the salvation of fallen away Catholics.

But there is a form of complaining which is sinful. In the book of Numbers, the complaining of the Israelites in the desert displeased the Lord. Numbers 11 says, “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled”.

There is a difference between bringing ones anguish and concern to the Lord and the sort of distrustful complaining the Israelites were manifesting. The Israelites murmured against God himself, his plans, claiming some defect in God’s providence. They hardened their hearts toward God and complained, not because his care was defective, but because his care was not exactly what they wanted. God often gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want. This form of sinful complaining is a sin against faith and trust in God’s providence.

St. James, this morning, condemns, complaining, not so much about God’s plans and God’s ways, but about our neighbors.

St. James is realistic about the problems Christians face. Due to our many faults, we often get under each other’s skins. We irritate each other. We fail each other. We don’t live up to each other’s expectations. And so we are tempted to sinful complaining. 

And St. James, this morning, is saying, “stop it.” “Do not complain,” rather, endure the faults of others with persevering patience. “Do everything without complaining or arguing” says St. Paul to the Philippians. 

Both James and Paul are in agreement, that sinful complaining is a form of unholy discord. Complaining introduces bitterness into otherwise sweet conversations. It the sign of an impatient, even a narcissistic heart. Complaining can easily become such a vice that some people’s entire personalities become warped by their constant complaining. “Complaining damages the heart,” Pope Francis said, a few years ago.   

Complaining is not a fruit of the Spirit. In fact, it is detrimental to the peace, joy, and patience that come from the Spirit. It is a poison, an acid, that erodes the bonds of unity and charity. It undermines the work of the Church.

As Christians, we must bridle our tongues, guard our tongues from such evils, and use our tongues, to speak the good things men need to hear, the call to holiness through Christian discipleship, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Christians may have the grace to love one another with patience, kindness, gentleness, and mercy.

In the recent words of Bishop Malesic, for “an immediate end to the hostilities, for a restoration of peace and for the safety of all Ukrainian citizens…[and] for the Ukrainian community in Northeast Ohio, that their friends and family members in their beloved homeland be kept out of harm’s way.”

For healing for all those suffering disease, especially diseases without known cures, and all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief.

For the dead, for all of the souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Holy mass is offered. 

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you are the source of all goodness, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith, we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.

December 7 2021 - St. Ambrose - Honey-tongued Orator and Courageous Bishop

Prior to his conversion to Christianity, Ambrose was of the Roman nobility, trained in the classics, a poet, and a noted orator and governor of Milan, Italy.  In the year 370, while Ambrose was the Roman governor of Milan, the bishop died, and a heated argument erupted over who would be the next bishop.  Ambrose tried to resolve this dispute, and his communication skills were so excellent that someone shouted out, “Ambrose for bishop”.  The orator was speechless, for he had no intention of being a priest or bishop. He wasn’t even baptized, for he was still a catechumen preparing for baptism. 

 He resisted, claiming that he was unworthy, but the people continued to acclaim, “Ambrose for bishop”.  The people prevailed, mostly because Ambrose wanted to preserve peace.  So on December 7 of that year, he was baptized, and was consecrated a bishop, a week later.  He immediately divested himself of his earthly possessions, giving away his wealth to the Church.

 He is known as the “honey-tongued doctor” of the Church, his iconography often having bees and beehives, symbolizing his sweet and smooth oratory and his wisdom. He therefore Patron Saint of Bees and Beekeepers, if you were wondering. Put a drop of honey in your tea in honor of St. Ambrose!

“Care must be taken that our speech proceed not from evil passions,” writes Ambrose. “For in guarding his mouth, and restraining his tongue, and in not speaking before examining, pondering, and weighing his words… he certainly is practicing modesty, gentleness, patience. So he will not burst out into speech through displeasure or anger, nor give sign of any passion in his words, nor proclaim that the flames of lust are burning in his language, or that the incentives of wrath are present in what he says.”

 Ambrose, echoes the epistle of St. James, in the need to bridle our tongue, to control our words. James writes, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.” To bridle our tongue is to practice self-control, examining, pondering, weighing our words…thinking before we speak.

 

 Ambrose’s bridled and honey-tongued speech won over the young St. Augustine to the Christian faith, inspiring Augustine to renounce his heresies and wild living and embrace Christ.

Ambrose was certainly given the grace to preach, as St. Paul says in the epistle today, and also a boldness of speech and confidence. In 390, a riot erupted in Thessalonica and a Roman Governor was killed. In retaliation, the Roman Emperor Theodosius brutally massacred 7000 Thessalonians. For this heinous act, Bishop Ambrose excommunicated the emperor, who claimed to be a Catholic. Theodosius, before he could be readmitted to the Sacraments was to do public penance for condoning the murderous act.

 To justify the use of this spiritual authority over the emperor, Ambrose explained, “the emperor is in the church not over it.”  That’s a good reminder to all of us today—that bishops have an important role to play in the lives of the faithful, even those who are political leaders.

 One of his biographers wrote that, “At the last judgment people would still be divided between those who admired Ambrose, and those who thoroughly disliked him.”  Better disliked and in heaven, then admired and in hell.

 So let’s pray today for our bishops, and for all Christians that they may have the gifts of preaching and courage had by Saint Ambrose, bishop, and doctor of the Church.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That the teaching and preaching of the Pope and all bishops and clergy will be founded firmly upon the full truth of the Word of God.

That all those who wander in error, far from the Gospel of Christ, may be led through the preaching and example of the Christian people to the fullness of faith.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life. 

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.