Memorial of Saint Scholastica

Today's Mass Readings

Today is the Feast of St. Scholastica. St. Scholastica was the twin sisterof St. Benedict, the St. Benedict who is the father of western monasticism,and the same St. Benedict after whom the current pope is named. Both Sts.Scholastica and Benedict are examples of the holiness to which we all are called. Today’s first reading is taken from the account of creation found in thefirst chapter of Genesis. In this reading we read about the fifth, sixth,and seventh days of creation. Humanity is created along with the rest ofthe land animals on the sixth day. Humans are singled out, however, in that they are created in the image of God. The creation account ends with theSabbath rest of God. In the Book of Exodus, God’s rest on the seventh dayis used as the justification for worshipping God on the Sabbath.

In the New Covenant with Jesus, we participate in the new Sabbath, Sunday,and worship God in the Eucharist we celebrate. Created on the sixth day with the beasts of the field, it is the dignity of being created in the image of God and the call to worship on the Sabbath that sets us apart fromthe rest of creation with which we share so much. We are called by God to enter into His Sabbath rest. In the Eucharist, creation reaches its fulfillment, and we participate in the divine life of the Holy Trinity.

Let’s take the example of St. Scholastica, for whom the Eucharist remained at the center of her life. Today we ask ourselves, how is it that we can make our Sabbath truly a holy day? In this time and age, where productivity and profit is the key, we might be inclined to focus less and less on setting aside holy time for God.

As with the six days of creation, our labors on the six days of the week are ordered to the Sabbath rest which anticipates our eternal rest in heaven. Let’s place the Eucharist in a special place in our lives, and order our weeks around our Eucharistic celebration.

- Jeff Morrow