Memorial of Saint Scholastica
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
MP3: “Creating a true culture of vocations in our homes“
Today’s readings on the memorial of St Scholastica focus on the generosity of God and our response to it. In the first reading, we see God creating the universe. He is coming out of Himself to give life freely. The Lord creates the earth and all the things on it. He brings forth a multitude of animals.
All these things the Lord places under the dominion of man and woman. They are the Imago Dei, or the Image of God. The human person is radically different from the rest of creation. In fact, we are told that everything else is made to sustain and serve mankind.
Parents Nurture Your Children
Yes, each one of us is the crowning of all creation! We are equal in dignity as the Image of God. The human person even shares in God’s creative power. This is especially the case in marriage, where husband and wife bring forth new life.
Yet, at the same time, we do not have dominion over this life like the animals, plants, and the earth. Nowhere in the Genesis account do we hear that the Image of God serves other men or women. Our children are not here to serve or please us but instead to Glorify God.
The parents of St Benedict and St Scholastica most likely knew this. These two famous Saints were brother and sister. They both gave up their lives to become founders of Religious Orders in the 6th century. We can presume that they received some support from their parents and relatives.
It is not always the case that families support the call to a supernatural vocation. Unfortunately, as vocation director for over five years, I have seen that parents are often an obstacle to the call of their children. Many, when they hear about their son or daughter considering a religious vocation, respond that this is a “waste of their lives.” Even those parents who are initially supportive often later give into the temptation to manipulate their child through guilt to turn away from this choice.
Responsible Parenthood
Parents let us remember that you do not have dominion over your children or any person! A child is a gift from God, not our possession. By discouraging a religious vocation parents are knowingly or unknowingly twisting one of the 10 Commandments. The 4th Commandment tells us to “Honor your father and your mother.” This is a precious call to respect and care for our parents, but not to serve them. The mother or father who try to determine their children’s vocation are “setting aside God’s Command…” for their own desires.
The readings today show us that God’s generosity to us is immense. We are called to respect all creation. This is especially the case of the Image of God or the human person. Each person belongs to the Lord of all Creation and are not to be seen as our possessions. Let us never allow our human desires to discourage God’s silent voice, which calls many to follow him more intimately.