Homily (Reflection) for Memorial of
Saint Catherine of Siena, V.D. (29th April, 2016) on the Gospel and
the memorial
(Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter)
Acts 15:22-31;
Ps 56:8-12. (R. v. 10);Jn 15:12-17.
St Catherine was born at Siena in 1347. She became a member of the
Order of St Dominic. Catherine was filled with an active love for God and
neighbour: she strove to bring peace to the quarrelling factions and cities of
Italy, and to restore the rights of the papacy, at that time in exile in
Avignon. She was a contemplative and ascetic, and her many writings are
remarkable for their spirituality and theology.[1]
Topic: Christ’s commandments.
Today’s gospel is also the continuation of Jesus’ teaching
that started two days ago. We remember that the condition for abiding in His
love is keeping His commandments. And today, Jesus zeroed in on His commandments,
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have
loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
Jesus addressed them further, “You did not choose me but I
chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so
that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.”
Did you notice a change from “my commandments” (Jn 15:10) to “my commandment” (Jn 15:12)? Actually, there was no shift.
Saint Paul wrote, “The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not
kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandment, are
summed up in this sentence, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Rom 13:9).
Christ calls on us all to love one another, not in word or
speech but in deed and in truth, cf. 1Jn
3:18. Saint Catherine of Siena who was filled with active love for God and
her neighbour was a very good example for all of us. Whoever wants to abide in
Christ’s love must therefore love his/her neighbours as Christ loves us.
Bible Reading: 1Jn 4:7-21.
Thought for today: Follow love, cf. 2Jn 1:6.
Let us pray: May God teach us how to love as His
Son Jesus Christ loves us all – Amen.
Saint Catherine of Siena – Pray for
us.
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[1]
The weekday missal: A new edition (1995). London: HarperCollins Religious, p.1481.
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