Last Sunday I preached the Word in St. Paul. Lawrence in Chorzów. He was the indulgence of the parish. I'm glad whenever I go back there. Already established himself in the climate of this specific, such as the great city parish. Its specificity lies in the fact that the majority of parishioners are elderly. I still do not understand why young people would "wywiać" in other places, because I believe that the land is situated on a hill between the Forum Theatre in Chorzow and Kosciuszko Park and Slaski stadium is very attractive. Or maybe it's me getting old already ... no doubt haunt me need stability - in all dimensions of my "ego". But this is not what I write.
I was wondering how to choose a topic in a pilgrimage sermon in the parish, where he has preached missions and retreats. I decided to "modernize" St. Lawrence! The first reflection, which became a point of departure was connected with the question if you need a saint today? Is not it an archaic church (one of many, moreover, in the opinion of today)? So on the one hand and the sacred, such as Lawrence, who lived in the fourth century, for me at all to life and happiness you need? On the other hand, when I die someone great, such a class as John Paul II or Mother Teresa, the emotionality of the human suggests that these people put on pedestals sacred anymore (or even before) the time of their departure from this world. Password "Santo subito!" Becomes the banner. But beware! Is the course time not to pull out of this banner is declining, because of the anniversary or special event? Wystygły emotions, life goes forward, and your pardon, what of the "Santo subito"? Exactly. That is why I am not an advocate of such passwords or preach, nor expressowych process of beatification in the Church. And here (I am aware of), risking a lot of ... to the dogmas of faith, however, this issue should not be. There is a third case the sacred thread. Namely, when someone dies who has created the star, or he created for one, an idol (see, eg Michael Jackson), followed general commotion, emotion and grief. He left the idol! We are without him. And he created a reality and lifestyle, not only many fans. We feel abandoned. Why did it happen? And if it is not important nor that such idol was getting on in years, that was sick, he could be very bad in my life to lead. No. The problem is that it no longer exists!
Do we need a saint? And if so, what? Whether, for example Lawrence can still bring something into XXI - Century man?
saint is not someone who lived life perfectly, someone perfect, very pious. A saint is also the star or no star, idol of the public. Holy One, in my understanding, is primarily someone who finally succeeded in the struggle, hardships, failures, failings and struggles, to achieve harmony in life, is someone who also became in the end one with Christ, in the words of St. Paul: "It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20). A saint is someone who has found harmony, accepting the Gospel way of life. Bible. became his instructions life, good and happy.
Trying to synchronize the life of the Roman deacon Lawrence with the words of Scripture, I found in the liturgy of the proposed number of references. Indeed, one could plan a whole series of sermons on St. Wawrzyńcu based on readings in the Liturgy of the Word. For this year I decided to choose an indulgence. The motto has become a chorus sung Psalm 112: "My husband just gives to the poor." Explaining the next word - say it again: a bit archaic and old-sounding chorus ecclesiastically - Lawrence discovered the spiritual profile, trying to uwspółcześnić saint. And so:
- "Husband" - not we here about a man, a peasant or a guy, someone is especially virtuous, and a remarkable, but the point man (man or woman), written with a capital "C". The man for whom life is a basic sense of humanity. "Looking for a Man", this phrase has long been one of the most important in my life. This "man" is also someone who speaks for the first verse of the psalm, it is "a man who fears the Lord, the God-fearing, for God is God.
- "Righteous". What does it mean that this man is fair? According to what criteria of justice? Are such, whereby you will receive as much as you have put together and I do not care any more, or treat you like you deserve it? Driven by this sense justice, we become rygorystami, or people having "no heart". Like everything in order, and yet ... The hardest part, however, is that not infrequently have to earn the love of man. And that's at home! "I'll love you if ...." Love for something for something love, love for money ... it hurts, hurts, kills. In the context of justice
quoted Benedict XVI's recent encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate": "First of all, justice. Ubi societas, ibi jus: every society develops its own system of justice. Love over justice, to love because it means to donate, donate something to my second, but there is never love without justice, which leads, to give the other what is it, what he deserves for this reason that it is up and running. I can not another "donate" something of himself, if he can not do in the first instance of what he should be in accordance with justice. Who loves another, is primarily just towards them. Justice is not only not alien to love, not only is not an alternative or parallel path of love: justice is inseparable from love "(No. 6). This is a good synthesis!
- "bestows." The issue stems from the self-giving love. And again, the pope writes that for the love you have to look at reality is always a "given and received." I must learn to adopt to give. I can give of what I have, who I am. My late friend Justin, who was famous for that, everything was to be divided, he told me often that one can pocket and the other gets. This golden rule meant that although he lived very modestly, that he never missed anything. Even the fresh flowers on the table!
- "Poor". Not to be confused with biedakami and paupers, please! You can not just look at poverty in terms of material deprivation. Poverty has many dimensions. I daresay that everyone is somewhat poor, if only it sees in himself. Poverty is a spiritual (sometimes true misery and emptiness), intellectual, emotional (now increasingly linked to the virtual world and human perception), and of course material. But it is also, for example appearance, age, aging, illness, failure. By defining their own poverty and accepting what you can not change, I can become great with (the real treasure) for the second, who runs away from his poverty. Lawrence brought the poor of Rome and called their "treasures of the Church." Therefore, we think their own poverty, to fighting poverty in itself, to accept what might be riches to others.
And so - in short - approached Lawrence, St. Lawrence, wishing you and the audience that would have the courage to become a man who, being the fair justice that comes out of love, will give and share with others, especially what constitutes the space of his " I ", the restrictions and do not domaganiami, the courage to, to become a saint.
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