With Me
After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold and said to the people: "You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough. Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan. This led to sin because the people frequented those calves in Bethel and in Dan. He also built temples on the high places and made priests from among the people who were not Levites. 1 Kings 12:28-31
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” Mark 8:2-3
Piety
Help make us as compassionate and welcoming as you are, Jesus. One kind word or gesture on our part could make all the difference in a person’s feeling welcome at your table.[i] (Our Sunday Visitor)
Study
What different motivations Jesus and Jeroboam had!
The cult-like innovations that Jeroboam introduced into worship were not for the end of forming a right relationship with God. The King feared the people. Although the Northern Kingdom split off from the house of David, the people continued to return to Jerusalem for worship. He was afraid that if they continued, they would just rejoin the other tribes and revolt and kill Jeroboam. So instead of working to fulfill the deepest desires of his people, Jeroboam created idols and placed them in the Northern Kingdom for worship.
Jesus, on the other hand, was preaching long hours and he was afraid that the people did not have time to get home before dark for dinner. So rather than send them away to fend for themselves, Jesus had the disciples gather what food they could so he could feed the four thousand right away.
Jesus, moved by pity and hungry to teach love, fed the people. Jeroboam, driven by fear, hungry for power and self-preservation, created false idols and priests to avoid the people turning back to David.
Action
What does all this have to say to us about Saint Scholastica – the sister of St. Benedict?
In the busy, needy world that we call home, we have to make time and space for the people whom we love. We can not send them off to fend for themselves when we can serve their innermost needs. When we do that, the Lord will also listen to what we need – and grant it -- even if the disciples and kings do not.
The classic story about St. Scholastica concerned a rare visit from her brother. However, she did not want him to leave. He had to get back for evening prayer at the monastery. She prayed for a storm – and got one, so he had to remain with her longer. I will let the words of Sr. Joan expound upon this episode:
During one of their annual visits, Scholastica, inspired by the depth of their conversation, asked Benedict to remain overnight in the place where they were meeting in order to continue their talk and reflection on spiritual things. Benedict wouldn’t even think of it. It was getting dark; it was time to get back to the monastery; it was time to get on with the regular routine of the spiritual life. Unable to persuade him with words, Scholastica put her head down on the table in deep prayer. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a great storm brought flash floods and Benedict realized that he could not possibly return to the monastery that night. And the Dialogues say, “he complained bitterly.” He said, “God forgive you, sister! What have you done?” Scholastica answered simply, “I asked you for a favor and you refused. I asked my God and I got it.”[ii]
What can this mean for us? As a two-day heavy rainstorm settles over us, let us do what we can to meet the needs of those around us – whether that is for companionship or food or more.
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