Sunday, October 4, 2020

OCTOBER 5 MEMORIAL OF SAINT FAUSTINA KOWALSKA, VIRGIN

 

St. Faustina Kowalska
Artist and date are unknown.

Readings for St. Faustina Kowalska 

Additional information about St. Faustina Kowalska 

Reading 1: Ephesians 3:14-19

Brothers and sisters:
I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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Commentary on 
Eph 3:14-19

St. Paul is addressing the Gentiles in Ephesus. “The apostle prays that those he is addressing may, like the rest of the church, deepen their understanding of God's plan of salvation in Christ. It is a plan that affects the whole universe (Ephesians 3:15) with the breadth and length and height and depth of God's love in Christ (Ephesians 3:18) or possibly the universe in all its dimensions. The apostle prays that they may perceive the redemptive love of Christ for them and be completely immersed in the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19). [1]

CCC: Eph 3:14 239, 2214, 2367; Eph 3:16-17 1073, 2714; Eph 3:16 1995; Eph 3:18-21 2565
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1bc-2, 3-4, 8-9, 13-14, 17-18a

R. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul!

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills,
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him,
For he knows how we are formed;
he remembers that we are dust.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!

But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,
And his justice toward his children's children
among those who keep his covenant.
R. O bless the Lord, my soul!
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Commentary on 
Ps 103:1bc-2, 3-4, 8-9, 13-14, 17-18

This hymn of praise focuses on God’s power and will to heal all ills and to support us in times of trouble. It is through his own will that he does this. The final two strophes reference God as a Father loving his children.

CCC: Ps 103 304
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Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30 

At that time Jesus responded:
"I give praise to you, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
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Commentary on Mt 11:25-30

Jesus has just completed a fairly scathing criticism of the people in the places he has been and performed miracles, yet many have not accepted him as the Messiah. He now concludes this section as he reflects that, while the scribes and Pharisees (“the wise and learned”) have not understood who he is, those with simple faith have accepted him freely. He then issues an invitation to all who “labor and are burdened” quoting an invitation similar to one in the book of Sirach to learn wisdom and submit to her yoke (Sirach 51:2326).

“This Q saying, identical with Luke 10:21-22 except for minor variations, introduces a joyous note into this section, so dominated by the theme of unbelief. While the wise and the learned, the scribes and Pharisees, have rejected Jesus' preaching and the significance of his mighty deeds, the childlike have accepted them. Acceptance depends upon the Father's revelation, but this is granted to those who are open to receive it and refused to the arrogant. Jesus can speak of all mysteries because he is the Son and there is perfect reciprocity of knowledge between him and the Father; what has been handed over to him is revealed only to those whom he wishes.” [2]

The final verses of this section are found only in St. Matthew’s Gospel and promise salvation to those who are downtrodden or in pain. “In extending his extraordinary invitation Jesus is speaking as one possessing the full authority and compassion of God. ‘Come to me, you all you grown weary with labor and heavily burdened!’ The proclamation has all the universality and power that only a divine call to mankind can have, the sort of blessed clamor of God’s compassion within human history that we hear in the prophets.”  [3]

CCC: Mt 11:25-27 2603, 2779; Mt 11:25-26 2701; Mt 11:25 153, 544, 2785; Mt 11:27 151, 240, 443, 473; Mt 11:28 1658; Mt 11:29-30 1615; Mt 11:29 459
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Reflection: 

“Devotion to God’s Divine Mercy bears some resemblance to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In both cases, sinners are encouraged not to despair, not to doubt God’s willingness to forgive them if they repent. As Psalm 136 says in each of its 26 verses, ‘God’s love [mercy] endures forever.’” [4] 

While St. Faustina is best known for her popular devotional, “Divine Mercy,” her life story is a testament to the blessing she clearly received through the beatitudes: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit God’s Kingdom. Meekness is not submission in fear like a beaten dog, rather it is an absolute acceptance of God’s love and mercy.  In Sister Faustina’s case this acceptance is embodied in her absolute confidence that God had, through his Son, offered his love a mercy to the whole world. 

Her life demonstrates her dedication to the yoke of Jesus.  A yoke, in the less mechanized times of farming, was used to guide animals along the correct path.  Jesus yoke, as the Gospel says is gentle, not the whipped sting of an overburdened beast.  It guides us, as it did Faustina along the path to peace and contentment possible only in the divine light of God’s mercy. 

On her feast day (established formally in May 2020), we ask for her intercession.  We pray that we are given a portion of meekness and love that will readily accept the loving yoke of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Pax


[1] NAB Footnote on Ephesians 3:14-19

[2] NAB footnote on Matthew 11:25ff

[3] Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word Volume I, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, © 1996 p. 710

[4] Franciscan Media, reflection on St. Faustina.

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