February 10, Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin
Daily readings: 1 Kings 12:26-32, 13:33-34, Mark 8:1-10
Out of insecurity and jealousy, Jeroboam, the king of the Northern Kingdom, goes to the extent of establishing an alternative place of worship in Bethel by installing two golden calves, appointing non-Levite priests, and announcing the date of the annual festival. God chooses to dwell on Mount Zion in Jerusalem in the house of David, while Jeroboam rejects God’s choice. He has the foolish courage to mislead his people when he proclaims that the two golden calves redeemed the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.
How dare he appoint priests to serve in these places of worship? Thus, he not only goes against God but also finds an alternative God as well. It is a sin against the first of the Ten Commandments, besides the sin of ingratitude. It should remind us of the sin of the people of Israel near Mount Sinai. Selfishness leads to an act of rebellion. The antidote comes from the Psalmist in Ps 106, where the Psalmist prays, “Remember us, O Lord, as you favour your people”.
Jesus continues to be in the Gentile region and among the Gentile population. Since they have been with Jesus for three days, all their resources have run short. Jesus is full of compassion for them, and he does not want them to faint if they are to return. The disciples of Jesus try to evade taking up the responsibility of feeding them. Seven loaves and a few small fish are more than enough to feed four thousand people. Jesus’ prayer of blessing multiplies the bread and more. The problems of desert places and large crowds mean nothing to Jesus and his intervention.
Holy Mother Church honours the memory of St. Scholastica, the biological and spiritual twin sister of St. Benedict. She committed herself to God at a tender age and followed the path of holiness of her brother, St. Benedict. According to traditions, she is the foundress of the Benedictine nuns.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Insecurity and egoism cause disastrous turns of events in the lives of individuals and the people who are under their care. How should I respond when my ego is hurt? Is my faith in God based on love or fear of punishment?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
