Word to the Wise
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 - St. Catherine of Siena, O.P., virgin and doctor of the Church
[Acts 16:22-34 and John 16:5-11]"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved." So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
Mind you, these words by the jailer of Paul and Silas come after an earthquake has wrecked the jail and the jailer was about to commit suicide because he thought the prisoners had escaped! His sheer relief that they were still there no doubt helped him make up his mind that Paul and Silas might just have the right things to say! Having been in a major quake (Oakland, CA, 1989), I think I can identify with his feelings somewhat! However, the book of Acts has as its purpose to give us an overview of the spread of the faith from Jerusalem to the whole of the civilized Mediterranean area. We have the missionary journeys of St. Paul to thank for that in large part, although he was not the only itinerant preacher of the gospel in those days. The beginning of the account for today shows that it was a dangerous business. Elsewhere in one of his letters (2 Corinthians 11:23-28!) Paul lists some of the trials he had to undergo for the sake of his mission. A study of the life of Catherine of Siena will show the same itinerant impulse and focus on mission! She related well with all kinds of people like the folks Paul met in the course of his work: tentmakers, cloth dyers (her father was in that trade), metal workers, etc. She also confronted mighty figures like popes and kings. Her travels, austerities and work wore her down and she died in her 30's. But, like Paul, she was a remarkable individual for her time. Spiritual heroes like Paul and Catherine show us that one person's life can make a difference. It is no excuse to say, "Yeah, but they were 'remarkable' and I'm not!" They just took their faith seriously and did what that faith impelled them to do with all their talent and time. Can we say that we do the same? AMEN
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