Feast of St. Scholastica
Gn. 3:1-8 | Ps. 32:1-2, 5-7 | Mk. 7:31-37
We see how Adam and Eve give into temptation and eat of the fruit from the tree they were told not to go near. When they hear God approach, they attempt to hide. How often we find ourselves pulling inward and attempting to hide when we make bad choices. The hiding is a sense of going into darkness or away from God. Correct or good choices lead us into the light, into the presence of God. The Gospel relates the story of Jesus’ healing of the man who was deaf and had an impediment. Jesus brings the man into His presence and heals him. The man is brought into the light of Christ, the light of God. No longer is he able to be excluded from the crowds; he is able to hear and to speak. All who experience this cure stand in awe at the great power that Jesus possesses. They likewise stand in the light. Their invitation is to accept the light and to follow Christ.
This is the same invitation that each of us is given. We might not see the physical Jesus; but, we do experience His grace, His power, His presence through the Church and its people. We are given a choice as well. We can choose to follow Christ and bring Christ’s presence into our world, or we can refuse to do so. What will your choice be? Why?