Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Luke 9: 51-56
The Lesson of Tolerance

Today’s Gospel gives us two powerful lessons in tolerance. First, the disciples wanted to silence someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name because he was “not one of them.” But Jesus would not allow it. God’s work is not limited to one circle, one group, or one method. Wherever goodness is done in His name, His Spirit is at work.

Second, when a Samaritan village refused hospitality, James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven. Once again, Jesus rebuked them. He would not allow zeal for His mission to become violence against others. Instead, He chose the harder path of patience, respect, and love, even in rejection.

True tolerance is not indifference but love. It is seeing in others—even those who disagree with us—not enemies to destroy, but brothers and sisters to win over with patience and kindness. This is the way of Christ.

On this memorial of St. Jerome, we see how this Gospel speaks to us. Jerome was fiery by temperament, often sharp in debate, and sometimes intolerant in words. Yet, he spent his life in the tireless service of God’s Word, translating the Scriptures into Latin so that countless generations could draw close to Christ.

His sharpness was ultimately rooted in love for truth and zeal for souls. He teaches us that true tolerance is not indifference but love—love that seeks truth, love that corrects error with charity, and love that welcomes every sincere effort to serve God.

Like Jerome, we are called to be passionate about the Gospel, but always with the heart of Christ: firm in truth, yet patient and merciful with others.

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Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025