Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious
(I John 3:22-4:6; Matthew 4:12-17.23-25)
As a new year takes hold, the gospel today pictures Jesus’
new, vigorous ministry. People come to
him from all over for healing. His
popularity will last only a short time.
Soon the Pharisees will begin to oppose him, and the people will lose
faith.
Opposition sets the tone of the first reading. The author takes to task former members of
his community who follow another “spirit” or belief. Evidently, the opposition believes that Jesus
did not come “in the flesh” but was a purely spiritual being. Such a belief has
enticing corollaries. One is that the body is unimportant and may be treated in
any way one likes. Sexual promiscuity
would even be possible with such an ideology.
Today the Church remembers Elizabeth Ann Seton, a person for
whom the body was very important. This
American Catholic convert saint suffered much grief with the loss of loved
ones. She also worked tirelessly to build
up a religious congregation to educate Catholic children. In following Jesus, she serves as a model of
courageous witness and good deeds.
