"Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, 'Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.'" - Mk. 7:14-15
There are no people better at reading me, encouraging me, irritating me, mocking me or perfecting me... than my siblings. In particular my little sister possesses a keen ability to perceive the interior motives or thoughts and bring them to the surface. I am also incredibly aware that I feel closest with her after the times that she's shared in a mass I've offered or we've prayed together.
Today our church celebrates the life of St. Scholastica. St. Scholastica and St. Benedict who founded the Benedictine order, are twins. St. Benedict said of his sister: "she could do more, because she loved more." How remarkable that these siblings, united and similar in so many ways genetically would also become united so intimately spiritually. Today as we live in a world which so yearns for fraternity and familial connections may we learn from the example set by St. Scholastica and her brother. Allow your relationship with Jesus Christ to underlie your relationship with your siblings. Invite them to church with you, call them up and ask to pray together.
How can I invite my siblings to share in my faith in Jesus?
Jesus, help me to share you with those who I am closest with.
Today's reflection by:
Fr. Chuck Dornquast
Did You Know...
Fr. Chuck Dornquast is a son of St. Joseph Parish in Zephyrhills. After graduating from Zephyrhills High School he entered seminary where he would spend the next 9 years. While in seminary he spent time at many of our diocesan parishes and discovered more and more the heart of Christ the High Priest within him. After ordination he spent his first 4 years of priesthood as the associate pastor of St. Lawrence in Tampa. He currently serves the Diocese of St. Petersburg as the Director of Vocations.
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