Readings
I - 1Kings 8: 22-23, 27-30
II - Mk. 7: 1-13
St. Josephine Bakhita (Memorial)
IT IS CHARITY THAT COUNTS
Today the Church honours St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese woman from Darfur region of Africa. She was kidnapped by slave traders and was sold for five times in slave markets. She was brutally beaten and physically scarred, bearing this excruciating experience of the crime in her body, soul, mind and heart. She was finally sold to an Italian diplomat, who was affectionate towards her and introduced the Master, par excellence, Jesus Christ to her. She was so much captivated by this Master, Jesus Christ who was flogged, abused, mocked and crucified as a ransom for the salvation of the humankind. Against all odds, she received baptism, and entered the religious congregation of the Canossian Sisters. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI thus described her vocation, “The hope born in her she could not keep to herself; this hope had to reach many, to reach everybody”. St. Josephine Bakhita did not do any great thing but small things with great love. She joyfully carried out the call of Christ in all the least important menial tasks that were assigned to her, but with great and utmost love. Every child who entered the campus to be educated by the Canossian Sisters, experienced the warmth of the love of St. Josephine Bakhita. She was simple, humble, noble and magnanimous in accomplishing all for Jesus. She was declared as the patron saint of human trafficking.
In today’s Gospel passage, the Pharisees accuses the disciples of Jesus for not washing their hands before eating - a ritual to be performed by every Jew. The Pharisees, gave importance not to the commandment of God but on the other hand to the traditions of their forefathers. Jesus vehemently opposes this duplicity and their convenience; and emphasis on the importance of the commandment of God that is based on love. Saint Theresa of Calcutta says, “In this life, we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love”. Adhering to the command of God and after the example St. Josephine Bakhita, accomplish even the smallest thing with great love and this is sanctity. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, fill my heart with your love”.
