We do not know very much about St. Scholastica whose memory we celebrate today. She was the sister of St. Benedict, dedicated her life to God at a very early age, and founded a monastery of nuns among whom she lived and died. I am a member of the Brothers & Sisters of Charity, a public association of the faithful, and we ask St. Scholastica to pray for us every day. St. Francis and St. Clare are invoked and this reminds us of our mission in the world. When I invoke the names of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, I realize the need to live the contemplative life. We may be busy domestics but what earthly good will all of our good work be if God is not bearing fruit in our hearts?
The first reading from Genesis presents God’s attitude toward the human being he had made. “It’s not good for him to be alone. I’ll make a suitable partner for him.” Then God parades all of the animals before Adam. Adam gives them names but he cannot find a suitable partner. Personally, I love animals but God knew and Adam figured out that no animal can be a suitable partner for a human being. We are wired for human contact. I love the response of Adam when he finally sees Eve for the first time – “at last.” That is the Hebrew equivalent of the English word “Wow!” There is such a complementarity between them that the two become one. They cling to each other and experience humanity in all of its fullness.
The psalmist sets forth the blessings of those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. All of the images in the psalm speak of fruitfulness. Your work turns to gold, your spouse is like a fruitful vine, your children like olive plants, and you live to see Jerusalem prosper.
The Gospel lesson is the story of Jesus’ interaction with a non-Jewish woman who comes to him to exorcize her daughter. Some have suggested that this story is of a slowly maturing Jesus who finally is brought to the realization of his worldwide mission by this persistent woman. I do not understand this story this way. In fact, the story is not so much about Jesus as about this woman. Gentiles were “dogs” to the Jews. When she made her request Jesus said that the children should eat first and that it is not right to take the food prepared first for the children and throw it to the dogs. Her response? I don’t need the food on the table. All I need is equivalent to what a dog might have given to it under the table by one of the kids. A “scrap” is all I need. A scrap? She is asking him to heal her daughter. A scrap! If that is a “scrap,” what would the full meal be? Jesus comes bringing the eucharistic banquet first to the Jewish people, and only later to the Gentiles. This woman says, in essence, I do not want to wait. I do not need the full meal. A scrap will do. Jesus gives her that scrap.
Is there a common theme in the readings and the life of St. Scholastica? God makes our lives fruitful. The God who does this is the one to whom healing a person is like a scrap of food thrown to the dogs. If this is the case, I wonder what it will be like to sit down at the banquet table of the Lord in the kingdom of God?
George Butterfield
I served as the Legal Reference Librarian at the Creighton University Law School Library from August, 2007, until August of 2017. I also taught Legal Research to first year law students and Advanced Legal Research to second and third year law students. In August of 2017 I took the position of Director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, and served in that capacity until Covid hit and the church staff was cut in half. Recently I took a position with the St. Gerald Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and my wife and I moved back to the Omaha suburb of Papillion.
My wife, Deb, and I have been married since 1970. She grew up in Oklahoma City and I migrated south from southwestern Pennsylvania. God has blessed us with three children, four living grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. I spent the first thirty years of our marriage as a minister so our family moved a lot. We have lived in several states, including Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and California.
I enjoy walking, reading, listening to audio books, playing with my Pekingnese, Max, my Maltese-Schnauzer, Blaise, and seeing my grandkids grow up. I am a Catholic deacon, having been ordained by Archbishop George Lucas on May 5, 2012.
There is nothing to compare with reflecting on scripture. I feel privileged to participate in these daily reflections. Although we don’t know whether or not St. Francis ever said it, one idea associated with him is that we preach the gospel always and, when necessary, use words. May these reflections be gospel words, good news, of our gracious Lord Jesus Christ.
