Daily Reflections

Scripture:

1 John 3:7-10
John 1:35-42

Reflection:

The Christmas Event and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Today’s Gospel selection features John the Baptist and two of his disciples meeting Jesus as he walked by – John the Baptist call Jesus “the Lamb of God”.  This chance encounter led to Jesus’ invitation to the two disciples of John the Baptist to “come and see” where Jesus was staying – and ultimately, those first few hours with Jesus led to lives of life-changing discipleship. 

Over the centuries and around the world, countless others have heard in their hearts Jesus’ personal invitation to “come and see”.  One such 18^th Century American woman-disciple we honor today:  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton…the first American-born saint.

Married to William Seton and mother of their five children, Elizabeth Ann was raised an Episcopalian but was later drawn to the Catholic faith by an Italian Catholic family whom she met while in Italy traveling with her husband.  After her husband’s untimely death from tuberculosis at the young age of 30, Elizabeth Ann embraced the Catholic faith – and subsequently opened a parish school in Baltimore to support her family and live her new-found faith. 

Drawn by Elizabeth Ann’s example, her fervor, a group of young women joined Elizabeth Ann in her gifted approach to education and Christian living.  In 1809 they formed the American Sisters of Charity, following the rule of St. Vincent de Paul; later they founded other schools and orphanages.  By the time of her death on January 4, 1821, the community had expanded their ministries as far west as St. Louis.

Elizabeth Ann Seton was called to help build up the Church in her era.  As noted in today’s Gospel, Jesus drew disciples to Himself and began the Church; centuries later and in another part of the world Elizabeth Ann joined those early disciples in saying “yes” to Jesus –and then working tirelessly to build up the Church.

This year 2025, God continues to bless us with our Passionist charism as enfleshed by St. Paul of the Cross years ago and lived today by many women and men world-wide.  May we deepen our relationship with Jesus as 2025 continues to unfold; may we encourage others to “come and see” God’s love present in our needy world.  I’m sure St. Elizabeth Ann Seton prayed the encouraging words of today’s Responsorial Psalm 98:  “Sing to the Lord a new song, for God has done wondrous deeds…”  Yes…Amen!!

Fr. John Schork, C.P. serves as the Province Vocation Director and also as Local Superior of the Passionist Community of Holy Name in Houston, Texas.