By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
“We do not proclaim ourselves. Rather we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants for the sake of Jesus. For the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has enabled his light to shine in our hearts to enlighten them with the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. However, we hold this treasure in earthen vessels so that it may be clear that this immense power belongs to God and does not derive from us.” (2Corinthians 4:5-7)

This scripture passage is taken from the first reading on the Memorial of St. Gregory the Great at the Mass for the Diocesan Catholic School Teacher Development Day last week. The life of this great Doctor of the western church, one of four along with Saints Ambrose, Augustine and Jerome, is an exceptional prism to view the varied dimensions of Catholic School educators. As in the life of Pope St. Gregory the Great, all educators in the faith are called upon to celebrate, live and circulate the treasure of faith, and not simply hold it within tucked away as if in a safety deposit box.

St. Gregory served as Pope from 590-604 AD. Throughout much of his life and especially as the successor of St. Peter the glory of God was evident, illuminating the presence of Jesus Christ in the church and in society.

He grew up in a prominent family in Rome, was well educated, a man of deep faith and very committed to service. Upon the death of his parents, he directed his wealth to the establishment of monasteries, assuming the vocation of a monk and serving as the Abbot. His administrative gifts were widely recognized and Pope Pelagius II who ordained him a deacon in 579 sent him as a legate to Constantinople. He returned to his monastery after his tour of duty in the East, but with the death of the Pope Pelagius in the plague that swept through Rome, by popular acclaim in the church and in society Gregory was swept into the papal office.

By the grace of God his accomplishments were legion over his 15 years at the center of the church. From the heart of the monastery, he brought Gregorian Chant into the mainstream of the church. Steeped in the scriptures he expended great effort in the renewal of the clergy, including the office of bishop. He commissioned missionaries far and wide to Africa, France, Spain, and to present day England and Scotland to convert the Anglo Saxons. The propagation of the faith is the church’s irrepressible missionary impulse, the Great Commission of Jesus (Matthew 28) and is integral to the ministry of the pope. At this very hour I am writing, Pope Francis is on a missionary journey to Asia, including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, East Timor, etc. As a final note, St. Gregory was an accomplished scholar whose writings remain a cherished part of the church’s treasury.

Amid all his scholarship, and accomplishments, in the Office of Readings for his feast day we have a glimpse of the heart of the man who knew he was an earthen vessel who held an eternal treasure. “Indeed, when I was in the monastery, I could curb my idle talk and usually be absorbed in my prayers. Since I assumed the burden of pastoral care, my mind is concerned with so many matters. I must weigh the behavior and acts of individuals. I am responsible for the concerns of our citizens. I must worry about the invasions of roving bands of barbarians and beware of the wolves who lie in wait for my flock. With my mind divided and torn to pieces by so many problems how can I meditate, or preach, or teach, or lead wholeheartedly? Moreover, at times I let my tongue run, and because I am weak, I find myself drawn little by little into idle conversation, and I begin to talk freely about matters I would have avoided. … So, who am I to be a watchman, for I do not stand firmly on the mountain of action, but lie down in the valley of weakness? However, the all-powerful creator and redeemer of mankind can give me despite my weakness a higher life and effective speech; because I love him, I do not spare myself in speaking of him.” Gregory described his ministry as Servant of the Servants of God, a title that has anchored the papacy to Jesus Christ the Servant ever since.

The key for all of us, like Pope St. Gregory, is the treasure we hold in the earthen vessels of our lives, the weakness and vulnerability from within, and often the unpredictability around us. The treasure is the faith, hope and love, this year’s theme for our Catholic School communities, that is the glory of God shining on the face of Jesus Christ. From the center of the church to all points on the compass, all the baptized are called to be disciples radiating the One who is the light of the world, true God from true God.