Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 6, 2019
Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,
“This is truly the Prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Christ.”
But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family
and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.
Some of them even wanted to arrest him,
but no one laid hands on him.
So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees,
who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?”
The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”
So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.”
Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,
“Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him
and finds out what he is doing?”
They answered and said to him,
“You are not from Galilee also, are you?
Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
Then each went to his own house.
Reflection
The truth can be unsettling, especially when it comes from unexpected or unwelcome sources.
Everyone in the crowd acknowledges the truth of Jesus’ teachings, yet many still question his authority based on their preconceptions. Are we inclined, like the Pharisees, to dismiss uncomfortable truths by discrediting the speaker, even to the point of condemning them without a hearing? In our hyper-politicized age, do we fail to fairly engage those whose political views differ from ours, preferring instead to denigrate their authority or motivation and retreat to the comfort of “our own houses”?
Confronted with demanding truths, I too sometimes question the source. My Pastoral Associate clearly does not understand the time commitment of my law practice when she invites me to serve as an RCIA sponsor. My wife doesn’t fully appreciate the uncertainties of retirement planning when she challenges me to increase our financial commitment in support of a struggling Catholic school.
We can recognize truth and still resist the demands it makes of us. The truth of Christ’s teachings often calls for personal change. Our Lenten journey began with the Ash Wednesday admonition to “Repent, and believe in the Gospel”— a call to conversion. Lent is our opportunity to accept the Gospel more fully and to align our lives with its truth. I’m still working on it.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you know well that our spirits are willing to follow you, but we are often overwhelmed by worldly desires. In your great love, send your Holy Spirit to drive out all that separates us from obeying your holy will. May we always see in you the way, the truth, and the life that leads to heaven, and may you give us the courage to help lead our brothers and sisters to eternal happiness with you. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Peter of Verona was famous for moving people with his preaching and miracles and was eventually killed because he proclaimed the truth so effectively.
Peter was born in the year 1205 in Italy, and when he went to study at the University of Bologna, he was offended by the behavior of his classmates. At the same time, he met the great St. Dominic and decided to follow him and entered the Order of Preachers.
Peter dedicated himself whole-heartedly to religious life—he spent his days in study or prayer or serving the sick. He grew into a successful preacher and traveled the region speaking to crowds.
He was falsely accused of scandalous behavior, and was exiled to a distant monastery until his name was cleared. He nearly despaired from the crisis, complaining that he had done nothing to deserve this trial. The insight came to him that Christ did not deserve his passion and death, and this thought restored his courage. When his name was cleared, he was even more effective as a preacher.
His eloquence and wisdom encouraged those struggling with their faith and brought back those who had wandered. He often spoke against those who professed to be Christian with their words, but who did not support those beliefs with their behavior.
He was given the gift of working miracles to accompany his preaching, and so many people were eager to hear him and be near him that he was often nearly crushed by the crowds that rushed together when he appeared.
In 1234, the pope appointed Peter as an inquisitor for the territory around Milan, which gave Peter an even wider context in which to defend and promote the faith. In addition to his preaching, he confronted heresy and reconciled those whose beliefs had strayed from the Church's.
His efforts created a number of enemies, as can be imagined, and they soon began to threaten his life. When he preached on Palm Sunday in 1252, he announced that a price had been placed on his head. “Let them do their worst,” he said. “I shall be more powerful dead than alive.”
On this date in 1252, Peter was traveling with another Dominican brother through the woods between towns when they were followed by assassins. One of the killers, a man named Carino, struck Peter on the head with an axe. Peter fell to the ground, wounded terribly but still conscious. Carino then attacked Peter’s companion. Peter began to recite the Apostle’s Creed before he was struck again and killed (which is why he is depicted with the word credo above, “I believe”). The other Dominican brother died five days later.
Carino, the assassin, fled to a distant town but was overwhelmed with shame at his actions. He repented of his crime and turned from the heresy that had inspired his opposition to Peter. He even later joined the Dominicans himself and was remembered as a holy man when he died.
Peter was canonized less than a year after his death, the fastest canonization ever. His relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus. Some calendars mark his feast on April 29, and he is also known as Peter the Martyr.
St. Peter of Verona, you were the wonder-working preacher who was assassinated for opposing heresy—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Peter of Verona is an illustration by Notre Dame alumnus Matthew Alderman '06, who holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of his art. Used here with permission.