Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 29, 2023
Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said,
“This saying is hard; who can accept it?”
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them, “Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe.”
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe
and the one who would betray him.
And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father.”
As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer walked with him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
The question posed by Jesus today is both loving and frightening. It occurs at the end of a heavy discourse on the Eucharist, where Jesus says that he is who the people seek. He recognizes the difficulty of this teaching but also the necessity of it.
My family recently laid my dad to rest after a short battle with cancer. For over thirty years, my dad shared his servant’s heart as a teacher, coach, and school administrator. One of the remarkable experiences at my dad’s funeral was the outpouring of love and support from his former students.
They appreciated the place my dad had in their lives. They told stories of his helping them with a problem, teaching them a particular technique on the football field, or simply being there for them when they needed him.
I also heard stories of frustration—with hints of anger—at some of the tasks that my dad asked of them. But even those memories still had a fondness to them. They were grateful that my dad pushed them to help them become who they are today.
Having watched my dad’s dedication, I understand the work of educators is best called formation. It is helping young people learn something about themselves or struggle with hard truths to come to a fuller understanding of who they are and who they are called to be.
This is ultimately the work Jesus is doing in today’s passage. He gives a hard teaching and invites us to work through it, struggle, and believe in something that truly fulfills us. We are called to respond in faith to the person who is the answer to every question and desire, leaving aside those things that might be holding us back from true happiness with God.
May we embrace the struggle of making ourselves the people God calls us to be so we can declare with Peter, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.”
Prayer
Ancient and Holy One, you never fail to teach us through the mystery of
your grace acting in our midst. You beckon all who hear your voice to go
out into all the world and proclaim the good news in everything we say
and do. Give your people strength and perseverance through communion
with our source of life, Christ your Son. May his eternal life dwell
within us and bring us at last into your peaceful presence. We ask this
in your holy name. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Catherine, from the time she was a child, had an extraordinary and mystical sensitivity to the divine. It was this dynamic relationship with God that propelled her to become one of the greatest female saints we honor.
She was born in 1347 in Siena, Italy, the 23rd child of Jacopo and Lapa Benincasa At the age of 6, she received a vision in which Jesus reached out and blessed her. This encounter encouraged her to give her life to God, and even as a child, she would spend much time alone in prayer.
Her parents were concerned that she was not behaving like other little girls. They imposed punishments so that she would abandon her preoccupation with the spiritual life. She retained her sweet demeanor through it all, and did not waver in her devotion. Finally, they gave in and acknowledged that she had a special calling to follow.
As she grew into adulthood, her prayer life became even more intense. She would receive tremendous consolations in prayer, but also fierce temptations. At times, God would seem altogether absent, but would always be revealed to be with her in hidden ways.
Her life was marked by several visions and manifestations when she was visited by the Lord—usually, these apparitions preceded a turning point when she was to take on a new role. In one vision towards the end of her life, she received the stigmata, which became visible to other people only after she died. She never married, nor did she ever join a formal religious community, but a small group of people began to follow her in imitation of her way of life.
She began to spend her energy caring for the sick, and took on especially difficult patients. One woman she served suffered from a disfiguring cancer and another was a leper, and they both insulted her to her face and spread rumors about her behind her back. She persisted in her charity, though, and over time, they both changed their ways and came to respect her and accept her care.
When an outbreak of the plague struck Italy, Catherine cared for the sick and dying, and buried the dead, with great compassion. She became so well-known for her holiness and compassion that many people started to seek her out for wisdom and advice. Three priests were assigned to her so that they might hear the confessions of all of those who were converted to change their lives after speaking with her.
Her counsel was also sought amidst the division in the Church when the papacy was split between Rome and Avignon, France, during that period of history. She spent the last part of her life working to heal this division.
Catherine has been declared a doctor of the Church, a title given to 37 saints who are known for elucidating the faith by their words or example. Her letters and a treatise called “A Dialogue” are considered among the treasures of Christian spirituality. She is depicted in this image from the Pasquerilla East Hall Chapel, and her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus.
St. Catherine of Siena, doctor of the Church and bold preacher of Christ who advised popes—pray for us!
To learn even more about Saint Catherine of Siena, watch this video lecture from the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame