Word to the Wise
Monday, April 29, 2024 - 5th Week of Easter - Mon
[Acts 14:5-18 and John 14:21-26]"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me." [John]
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2024 ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA, OP, virgin and doctor of the Church [1347-1380]
[Acts 14:5-18 and John 14:21-26. These scriptures will vary at Dominican locations because it is a feast day in the Dominican calendar]
The Last Supper discourse could be seen as one long reflection on the nature and possibilities of a relationship with the Holy Trinity, and with Jesus in particular. It includes the promise of the Holy Spirit to guide us to all truth. [John 16:13-15]. Jesus speaks of his words as not coming just from him but from his Father. In the Dialogues, St. Catherine of Siena speaks of Jesus as "the bridge" to the Trinity and the kind of relationship we could have if we take that offer. The challenge in all of this is to take our faith beyond mere assent to written dogma to a genuine love of God AND neighbor. All the statements about "remaining" in Jesus and "keeping" his word are directed outward, radiating, as it were, to the world and inviting others to faith and love.
Catherine of Siena would be a remarkable woman in any age, but in the 14th century, she was almost a phenomenon, acting in international diplomacy as well as in care for the sick and wounded. Her Dialogues were spoken when she was ill and were written down and remain a spiritual inspiration. She developed her relationship to Jesus at a very early age and eventually became a member of a group of laywomen connected to the Dominican Order, which served as a kind of platform for her many ministries. Her relationship to God was the driving force of her efforts, which makes her a model of Jesus' words in the Last Supper discourse. She was a preacher in every sense of the word. We Dominicans joyfully celebrate her life and ministry today. AMEN