Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Scholastica (10th February, 2017) on the Gospel and the
Memorial
(Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
(I))
Gen 3:1-8;
Ps 31:1-2.5-7 (R. v.1);
Mk 7:31-37.
Saint Scholastica, twin sister of Saint Benedict, was
born in 480 of wealthy parents. She founded a religious community for women
near Monte Cassino at Plombariola. The twins visited each other once a year in
a farmhouse because Benedict was not permitted inside the monastery. According
to the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great, they spent their last day
together in prayer and conversation. Scholastica sensed her death was close at
hand and she begged Benedict to stay with her until the next day but he refused
because it was against his own Rule. She asked God and a severe thunderstorm
broke out, preventing Benedict and his monks from returning to the abbey. Benedict
cried out, “God forgive you, Sister. What have you done?” She replied, “I asked
a favour of you and you refused. I asked it of God and he granted it.” Three
days later, Benedict saw the soul of his sister rising heavenward in the form
of a white dove. He buried her in the tomb he had prepared for himself.[1]
Topic: Turn to God.
Today’s gospel
tells us how a deaf man who also had an impediment in his speech was brought to
Jesus for healing.
He
took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his
ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed
and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears
were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
Jesus
looked up to heaven because “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made
heaven and earth” (Ps 124:8). And
the prophet Isaiah rightly noted that those “… who wait for the LORD shall
renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall
run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Is 40:31).
We
all need the healing touch of Jesus in different areas of our lives. That Jesus
who restored the wholeness of the man that was brought to Him is still at work
and wants each and every one of us to come to Him with our joys, pains,
sorrows, disappointments, heartbreaks, and so on. He can and is also willing to
restore all of us to wholeness because He came that we may have life and have
it in full, cf. Jn 10:10.
Jesus
turned to the Father in today’s gospel. Saint Scholastica also turned to God when
her brother refused her request. And for us to be healed, we must follow their example
and turn to God in every circumstance.
Bible Reading: Is 35: 1-6; Rom 10:5-21.
Thought for today: In every circumstance, turn to God.
Let us pray: Lord,
we plead with you to heal every part of our body that we may praise you fully – Amen.
Saint Scholastica – Pray for us.
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