We celebrate today the life of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, a young women and member of the Mohawk Indians of North America who resisted pressure from her tribe to marry and instead entered the Jesuit mission near Montreal. At the age of 23 she made her public vow of perpetual virginity. She remained faithful to her culture devoting herself to good works and praying for her fellow Mohawks.
At the age of four her parents and brother died from a smallpox epidemic. She died of illness at the age of 20 in 1680. Fifteen minutes after he death, her face pockmarked with smallpox scars, grew clear and luminous.
There is much to admire about this unique young woman, her fidelity to her Indian culture which she remained faithful to even as she embraced the Catholic faith. But what truly struck me was the claim that fifteen minutes after her death her pockmarked face that she bore since the age of four grew clear and luminous.
In the gospel today we heard that Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. Jesus voiced strong disappointment with peoples he interacted with who had received so much and yet showed so little appreciation. Mighty deeds had been done for them, yet they did not respond in kind. The prophet Isaiah acknowledged the same truth and often urged people to “hear the voice that entreats you”
Kateri Tekakwitha heard that voice and responded. While alive she did not fix her eyes on things that are seen but on the things that are unseen for the things that are seen are for a time but the things that are unseen are eternal.
From the time of Jesus until the present moment God’s voice has been entreating us to embrace his message, his son, his call to repentance. He has been presenting us with a gift and all too often the gift is refused. It is the same gift that Saint Kateri Tekakwitha received.
If we too hear the voice that entreats us and respond we too will be made clean and luminous upon our death.
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Father Leo's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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