Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
I have difficulty believing, sometimes, that I can really be a disciple. I often feel like I'm engulfed by doing so much for and with my kids that it feels like loving my enemies or the strangers in my midst is too tall an order. Take this past week: I took my kids to see their grandparents in Colorado and the youngest got an ear infection while we were there. We were so focused on caring for her and on being with family that I wonder: am I really DOING what I'm supposed to be doing?
Today's memorial is for a saint who certainly cared for strangers in her midst but who also was concerned for her family. Elizabeth Ann Seton is the first American-born saint - and a mother to five children, a convert to Catholicism (having been raised in the Episcopal church), and foundress of the Sisters of Charity. In fact, she was initially concerned about being the leader of her community precisely because she still had children to care for.
Mother Seton reminds us that what we DO, and who we are DOING it for, is not really the point. Of course our actions matter - but what matters more is that we are focused on God who is our reason for doing what we do in the first place. Mother Seton is quoted as saying "The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills it; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will." Doing is important, but being able to see and carry out God's will is the first step toward being able to "do".
Today's scriptures remind us of the importance of being focused on God first; only then can we see that all our "doings" can relate to what God calls us to, or not. In fact, today's scriptures are focused on being able to "see" God, in order to act well. In today's first scripture (1 John 3:7-10) we are reminded that the Son of God is revealed - God shows us Jesus so we can see that we need to get rid of sin. If we are children of God and believe in the Son of God, then we are called to do righteous actions and to love our brother. But this only comes from seeing the revealed Son of God, first.
In the gospel (John 1:35-42), seeing comes up several times. John the Baptist cries, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" John already knows who Jesus is and is asking everyone else to look and see, too! Moreover, Jesus himself asks John's disciples and others to "come and see!" So it is that Andrew and Peter became followers of Jesus - because they saw.
I do think God calls me to break out of my bubble of being with family and friends - but today's scriptures also remind me that my family and friends are as much in need of my discipleship as others are. In this year of being the church at home, and home at church, this is especially important to remember. God calls us to be disciples of Christ all the time. Today, let us ask God to help us see him and focus on him.
- Jana M. Bennett