May we learn to be the king’s good servant, but God’s first. Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, two learned and devout Catholics, were put to death by King Henry the VIII because each of them refused to support Henry’s intention to divorce his wife and marry another woman - in opposition to Catholic teaching and papal authority. What became of these two men?
Thomas Fisher was a priest and later a Cardinal, who supported the wife of the King. Thomas More was comparable to the King’s Prime Minister, and he refused to sign the King’s document of divorce. Both were beheaded.
Both were good servants, but both were God’s servants first. What an inspiration then and now. Their character was molded by the Scriptures we heard today.
In the passage from Genesis, we learned that Abram and Lot had their differences. Abram was willing to let Lot make the first choice as to which direction he would travel. Abram however waited patiently and sought guidance from God and God gave him the promise to increase his descendants.
In life we also get to make many choices and many of us may not always remember to invite God into our lives as we make those choices consequently, we pass on the promise that God made to be with us in all matters.
The instructions that Jesus provided for us in the gospel today were certainly teachings that Thomas More and John Fisher took to heart. The first instruction was an invitation to them and to us to exercise caution and discretion in the choices we make.
When Jesus tells us not to give what is holy to dogs, he is reminding us to safeguard the treasures we possess, holy treasures: our baptism, our faith, our Catholic beliefs, and traditions. In the Scriptures we are reminded that these treasures are like pearls which a merchant finds and after finding them, sells everything to buy them. John Fisher and Thomas More were willing give up their lives rather that deny their treasure.
Jesus reminds us today that following him will involve some tough choices and not all will be willing to pass through the narrow gate.
We know many men and women who, faithful to God, were also a compassionate presence among us, good servants to all but who put God first. Let us pray for the grace to be among them.
