Colossians 1:28-2:3
2 I want their hearts to be encouraged
and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured
understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself,* 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge.
Gregory the
Great
Today we celebrate
Gregory the Great. This saint was Pope
from 590 to 604 C.E. and is known as the Father of Christian Worship. He is
also quoted as saying “many are called but few are chosen.” Saint Gregory lived
as a monastic for a time and wrote a book called On Pastoral Care.
As a member
of Community of Hope International, whose motto is “Listening with the ear of
the heart,” I feel some camaraderie with St. Gregory as one who is trying to
provide pastoral care to others. I have
done this in many ways including hospital
visits, nursing home visits, calling people who are shut ins, sending cards to
people, saying prayers, providing meals, serving on a Meals on Wheels cook team,
and even writing a book of prayers for a friend’s child during his heart
surgeries. I have tried to be the face
of Christ to others in their time of need.
I am now
dealing with my father’s illness and hospitalization and it is very hard to
remember how to be pastoral to myself and to other care givers when it is so up
close and personal. I have to remember
that God is ever present and remember to call on Him in good and bad times on
this difficult journey. I have to
remember that God wants my heart to be encouraged and united in love with my
other family members. And I have to remember that God has knowledge of what is
going on with my family and is right there with us. For all of these things, I am thankful.
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