Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 26, 2025
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another form
to two of them walking along on their way to the country.
They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either.
But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those
who saw him after he had been raised.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
A recent visit to the eye doctor to address my age-related vision issues has created an unsettling feeling. Changes in vision make us adjust our perspectives and think about how things can appear differently. In some situations, we may have to put in considerable effort to see what is around us. We can take for granted the gift of sight.
In today’s gospel, we repeatedly hear instances of Jesus’ followers not believing because they did not see. It can be easy to feel superior to these disciples who refuse to believe that Jesus had risen. Surely, we think, we would believe our friends and know that Jesus was here with us.
But, in this situation, would we really believe that Jesus was alive without seeing him? Or do we rely too much on the face value of what we can see, and not look and think deeper?
To develop our faith, we can focus on looking deeper and accept the challenge to “see” Jesus in others we meet in all our daily interactions. Jesus teaches us, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” That means everyone, even your grumpy co-worker or an angry family member.
It also means seeing Jesus in ourselves. Sometimes we give in to negative criticism and self-doubt. We must offer ourselves the grace and compassion that we may more readily provide to others, but may struggle to offer to ourselves. God’s message calls us to make our faith seen. Let us take the message of Jesus out to the world, and pray that the world will see the gospel in us.
Prayer
God of all wisdom and grace, you fill us with unwavering zeal to proclaim the truth of our faith wherever your Spirit leads us. Give us courage and determination to live out our faith even amid this harsh and challenging world. May our lives reflect your radiance as you lead us into your promise of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel began as devotion to a particular image of Mary in Genazzano, Italy.
For many years, the town of Genazzano dedicated its tithes to the construction of the beautiful basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome. In return, a church was built in Genazzano, and the Augustinian friars took charge of the church in 1356. Many pilgrims flocked to the church to pray to Mary.
The image of Our Lady of Good Counsel, shown here, purportedly appeared miraculously on the wall of the church when it had fallen into disrepair.
Art experts say that the image is from the early fifteenth century, the only surviving portion of a much larger fresco that had covered the church walls.
As pilgrims flocked to Genazzano and asked for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel, they attributed miracles and cures to Our Lady's intercession, and devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel spread throughout Italy. In 1903, Pope Leo XIII added the title to the Litany of Loreto, which honors Mary.
Popes, councils, and leagues of women have invoked her patronage and guardianship. She is the patron of the town of Essen in Germany and many of her devotees wear a white scapular as a sign of their trust in Mary.
One of the mottos inscribed on the scapular is a quote of Pope Leo XIII: "Child, listen to her counsels." Our Lady of Good Counsel is an apt title for Mary that reminds us that we can look to her as a wise mother to guide us. As Mary offered herself completely to God, to bring the divine plan of Salvation to completion, she is an excellent guide for us as we seek to make Christ's plans for us complete in our own lives.
Mary's counsel will always lead us back to her Son, our God, and therefore we can always trust that it will be very, very good.
Our Lady of Good Counsel, our mother and guide—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of Our Lady of Counsel is in the public domain. Last accessed February 21, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
