Daily Reflection
April 29th, 2005
by

Cathy Weiss Pedersen

Campus Ministry
Click here for a photo of and information on this writer.
Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena
Acts 15:22-31
Psalm 57:8-9, 10 and 12
John 15:12-17

“This is my commandment: Love one another as I love you.”(Jn. 15: 12)

“The problem is that being a good member of a parish populated by all the diverse people in the neighborhood, reaching out to people of all perspectives and needs is exactly what these young people want. ‘If you are one (kind of Catholic),’ the young woman said, “the others will not talk to you. Is that Christian?” she implied with a shrug of her shoulders...” (A conversation in the April 19, 2005 Notes from Rome “I missed the smoke; I got the idea” by Joan Chittister, OSB.)

Today is the feast of Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church (conferred by Pope Paul VI in 1970). The honor is bestowed on individuals who are examples of eminent learning, a high degree of sanctity, and proclamation by the Church.

Catherine of Siena’s advice and help was sought by Pope Gregory XI as well as by his successor, Pope Urban VI during the Great Schism. As a Dominican Tertiary, Catherine devoted her life to prayer for peace and the conversion of sinners, as well as serving the sick and poor. She did not desire attention for herself, but worked tirelessly to bring others to God. However, she responded to the needs of her church and worked for a peaceful resolution of the differences among the factions in the church.

Today’s readings for the feast of Catherine of Siena witness to the early apostolic community’s inclusion of the voices of the whole community in its decisions and written messages to new communities. In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, representatives are sent with Paul and Barnabas and a letter to Antioch to help clarify some misunderstandings of the teachings of the early Christian community. Evidently, Antioch was confused by conflicting teachings and rules from earlier preachers. The letter to Antioch simply stated that, “…It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities…” The letter and representatives were sent from “…the Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church…”

Today’s gospel message, “…to love one another as I love you”, certainly is reflected in the life of Catherine of Siena as well as her message to the people with whom she met, worked and conversed in person and in her letters.

I believe that this is what Jesus is inviting each of us to do…to love others as I love you. And this is what Catherine of Siena’s life witnessed to and with others.

The question put forth by the young woman in Rome in my opening quote is challenging all of us to consider what it really means to be Christian in today’s world.

My prayer today is that we, as church - leaders, communities and individuals - will open our hearts and minds to the real meaning of what Jesus is asking of us…to be Christ-like…to have compassion (presence) with, to and for one another. Our challenge is to respectfully listen and respond to the voices and needs of one another through our gifts, talents and presence with which God has gifted each of us as images of God in our world today. If we fail this, we fail the church of today and tomorrow and the gospel‘s call, “to love one another as I love you”.

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