Reflection for the Vigil of Feast of St. Scholastica

Luke 10:38-42 

If you grew up with a bunch of siblings like I did, you can probably relate to Martha’s exasperation in this story. How come you are sitting around while I am doing all the work? 

That seems to be Martha’s perspective. But Jesus tells Martha that this is not what this situation is about. Mary has chosen the better part. What does that mean? 

I’m reminded of my last visit with my sister Mary. She arranged this trip. We drove out to Blaine and Frankfort enjoying the scenery and sharing memories along the way. And we drove around the area too, sharing stories. Within a few weeks, Mary died, and it was only later that I realized what this trip was about. It was her way of saying goodbye… and gratefully reminiscing on the love with which we have been graced through the years.  

As I ponder that last meeting of Scholastica and Benedict, I am wondering if this is what that meeting was about. Did Scholastica know that her ending was imminent? Did God bless her with another chance to share the love and joy she had known with her beloved twin brother? Maybe Benedict was as blind to his sibling’s situation as I was to mine… 

Gregory the Great says Scholastica was heard because she loved more… This is probably not another instance of sibling rivalry. What then is it about? What can it mean for us? 

During Lent we have been given the opportunity to participate in the Renewal in the Heartland movement. As I read the document, the purpose is to get the baptized to take responsibility for actions that follow the example of Jesus. It is asking the participants to become aware of needs in their communities, and to begin taking responsibility as the Body of Christ in our world.  

If we were a younger apostolic community our responsibility could be very clear. We could mobilize to work at doing something about the needs we see around us. Is that the approach a monastic community needs to take? 

“Mary has chosen the better part.”

What can that mean here? It probably doesn’t mean we can just sit comfortably saying our rosary… or doing our lectio..  

Maybe the better part Mary has chosen is to ponder our need for participation as monastics in the mission of all the baptized. How are we called to share the love of God in this fractured world? Maybe we need some creative thinking… What would the better part look like in this world?