Readings
I - Gen. 2: 4-9, 15-17
II - Mk. 7: 14-23
ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA
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, Jesus says that what comes from men defiles and that not what goes inside, meaning to say that all creation of God is clean and good. Allow the goodness within us to overflow so that the world will be filled with happiness, love, peace and joy. 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”.
