Today we gather to reflect on the life of Saint Scholastica, whose unwavering spirit and commitment to God inspire us still. In her relationship with her brother, Saint Benedict, we find a testament to the power of community. Their annual meetings were not mere familial gatherings; they were retreats filled with prayer, deep theological reflection, and the sharing of faith. From this, we learn the profound importance of having spiritual companions on our journey.
Scholastica’s life teaches us that our faith flourishes in relationship. In a world that often encourages isolation, particularly in times of distress, she shows us the beauty of belonging to a community rooted in love, support, and shared devotion. We should strive to nurture our relationships within the Church, to engage in conversations that lead us closer to God, and to support one another in our spiritual journeys. Notice, Scholastica treasured speaking to her brother about God. Personally, I think we do not do that enough. I think our best conversations at table for example, is when in the refectory we touch upon a theological or pastoral matter. It’s something that both excites and intrigues us, as it should.
Let us take a moment to ponder the boldness of Scholastica’s character. We know how she prayed for a storm to keep Benedict with her. Benedict seemed to be calling the shots, but there was someone greater than Benedict, and Scholastica had the mind and the cunningness to resort to Him, to God, so as to acquire what she desired in such a holy way and for their growth in faith. When was the last time I asked God to help me to love him more, to believe in him more, to give me the courage to trust him more? Scholastica understood, and God heard her prayer.
The people who were brought to Jesus in today’s gospel, the great crowds of sick and paralyzed and ill-stricken, were aided by people who believed that Jesus could make a difference. They knew that the God who brought all things forth, as we heard in the first reading from Genesis, had the power to renew flesh and health with one word. They trusted in him.
Scholastica trusted in him. Where is our trust-level with God? Every relationship, even among ourselves is built on trust. If there is no trust, we merely put up with each other at best. And this is a very sad way to live religious life. So too it is in our relationship with God. We need to grow to trust him, because sometimes we allow doubts not only to creep in, but to dominate our lives. Things like; why did God allow that evil to happen? Why did God not intervene? And instead of believing and trusting that there is an answer known to him alone, we are repulsed to the point where we begin to doubt in him, and our trust level goes down and down, and with some, unfortunately, faith is lost entirely. How many times do I hear in the confessional: “Padre, I am just coming back to the Church after 10 or 20 or 30 years, because my son died at such a young age and I lost my faith in God.”
So, our trust level with God also is something we work at and we pray for. Saint Francis trusted in God, and yet he died at such a young age. Why do we base everything on when a person dies, and how early they die? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. God does not see our existence as merely sixty to a hundred years and that’s it, but God sees an eternity that we will be spending with him. What often looks like tragedy in our eyes, might not be tragedy at all in reality, but in our human nature we need reassurance.
Like Saint Scholastica therefore, as we go on with the Mass, let us ask the Lord to give us the grace to trust him more. After all, this is what the apostles asked: “Lord, increase our faith.” In other words, “Lord, increase our ability to trust in you.” And we know that to another saintly nun, Saint Faustina, this is what he even had inscribed beneath his portrait and what we will each continue to do: Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.
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