[In the Dioceses of the United States]
564A
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| “The Dream of St. Isidor” by Josef von Fuhrich, 1839 |
From the Common of Holy Men and Women
Biographical information about St. Isidore (the Farmer) [1]
Readings and Commentary: [2]
Reading 1:
Second Option Revelation 3:14b, 20-22 (From the Common of Holy Men and Women #538)
"'The
Amen, the faithful and true witness,
the source of God's creation, says this:
""'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
then I will enter his house and dine with him
and he with me.
I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne,
as I myself first won the victory
and sit with my Father on his throne.
""'Whoever has ears ought to hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.""'
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Commentary on Rv
3:14b, 20-22
The image of Christ knocking at the door evokes the image of a loving parent, concerned for their child, bringing with them unconditional love. It is captured well by the Spanish poet Lope de Vega: “How many times the angel spoke to me:/ ‘Look out of our window now,/ you will see how lovingly he calls and calls.’/Yet, sovereign beauty, how often/I replied, ‘we’ll open for you tomorrow’,/to reply the same when the morrow came” (Rimas sacras, Sonnet 18) [3]
St. John addresses the Church of Laodicea. [4] His
principal thrust is the lack of zeal for the faith they have shown. In this passage, the vision of St. John conveys
the idea of the Holy Spirit reaching out to the Church, asking her to be strong
and valorous in faith, inviting them to share God’s ultimate victory.
CCC: Rv 3:14 1065
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Responsorial Psalm:
3. Psalm 16:1-2ab and 5, 7-8, 11 (From the Common of Holy Men and Women)
R.
(see 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even at night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
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Commentary on Ps
16:1-2ab and 5, 7-8, 11
Psalm 16 is an individual hymn of praise.
The psalmist prays that God will shield the faithful from harm and expresses
confidence in the Lord’s salvation. The passage closes with praise for God’s
loving mercy. This selection is structured to support the Pauline ideal
of placing God first in the life of the faithful. Their greatest possession is
being loved by God and loving God in return.
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Gospel:
2. Matthew 5:13-16 (From the Common of Holy Men and Women)
Jesus said to
his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel
basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”
He uses a second allegory, light, to provide still more direction. The light of faith will be seen by all because it is reflected in the actions of those who believe. That light serves to guide others to God, when they may otherwise become lost in darkness, and wander into paths of desolation. That light that pours from the disciples will be seen as a gift, not from them, but from the Father, and the Father will be glorified because of the light.
“Salt and light each impart their own virtue, provided they remain fully what they are. Christians are the means whereby God wants to flavor life, to illuminate life. Do we not too often want to be receivers rather than the givers, and do we not in this way become insipid and dark? The disciple himself is responsible if the world around him remains crouching in lethargy, untransformed.” [5]
CCC: Mt 5:13-16 782, 2821; Mt 5:14 1243; Mt 5:16 326
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Reflection:
When we look at the lives of saints, we discover very quickly, and to our great relief, that all of them are not created in the same image. Some, like St. Augustine, started their lives on a path we would be sure would end up in disaster. Others, like St. Maria Goretti, seemed created solely for sainthood. It is interesting to note also that saints seem often to come in pairs or even groups, often taking courage and inspiration from one another. Such is the case of the patron saint of farmers and brick layers, St. Isidore the Farmer.
St. Isidore (c. 1070 – 1130) was a Spanish laborer, working on a nobleman’s farm from a young age. He always displayed a deep devotion to the Lord, finding solace and even joy in his presence (in the blessed sacrament). He married another saintly person, María de la Cabeza (pending canonization at this writing). Together they had one son who died in his youth. It is recorded that during the son’s life, he fell into a deep well, at the prayers of his parents, the water of the well is said to have risen miraculously to the level of the ground.
St. Isidore went to daily Mass, often staying long in the Church to pray and commune with the Lord. This actually got him into trouble with the other workers at times because he would arrive late to the fields. But his attitude was clearly that of Christ. He was attentive to the poor and, it is said, he miraculously provided food for them in times of severe hardship.
In all of his service he is said never to have neglected his labor and his fidelity to the work of his hands as well as his ministry. In this he becomes the light of Christ “set on a lampstand” for all to see. He fulfills the Gospel call and his deeds did not bring him riches, rather they were seen to glorify his Heavenly Father.
In this, his feast day, we ask for his intercession. May his spirit of humility and fidelity be reflected in our own efforts to show others God’s heavenly Kingdom.
Pax
[2] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[3] The Navarre Bible Revelation and Hebrews and Catholic Letters (Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003), 52.
[4] Laodicea: ca. forty miles southeast of Philadelphia and ca. eighty miles east of Ephesus, a wealthy industrial and commercial center, with a renowned medical school. It exported fine woolen garments and was famous for its eye salves. It was so wealthy that it was proudly rebuilt without outside aid after the devastating earthquake of A.D. 60/61.
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