Daily Gospel Reflection
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February 1, 2023
Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Reflection
As a former ACE teacher during this Catholic Schools Week, I felt particularly called to sit with the moment of challenge presented in this gospel—Christ struggling to teach in his native place. It reminded me of the many moments of challenge during my own teaching experiences.
While I was far from my native place, I, like Jesus, certainly got my fair share of questions. About my ACE housemate: “Are you and Mr. Tenaglia dating?” In the midst of a sixth grade life science lesson: “Ms. Kelly, why do you believe in God and evolution?” After one time telling my students that I wasn’t mad, but I was frustrated: “Are you frustrated again Ms. Kelly?” Following a student fainting in my class and leaving with EMS: “Is Dillon going to be okay?”
In the gospel, even with the range of questions Christ received, Jesus presses forward despite the difficulties, curing the sick in this gospel story and continuing to teach in nearby villages in the following verses. Christ truly models for each of us the call to always press forward in spreading the love of the gospel, even in challenging moments. But how does Christ manage to carry on when facing difficulty?
We also hear this language of “native place” in the O Salutaris Hostia (O Saving Victim), often sung during Eucharistic Adoration. The hymn closes, “Grant us, for endless length of days,
in our true native land to be.”
Ultimately, Jesus was able to do what was difficult because he kept his eyes focused on his true native land—heaven. May we keep our gaze on Christ and, in doing so, also be reminded of our native land. With heaven on the horizon, I have confidence that Jesus will be amazed, not by our lack of faith, but by the depth of our faith.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, give us today a faith to believe in you. You are the one sent by the Father to reconcile the world and to forgive us of our sins. Perfect our doubts, purify our lips, that we may only speak and act for your glory and praise. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Brigid was one of the greatest leaders and evangelists Ireland has known.
She was born in 453 near Dundalk, Ireland, and her parents were baptized by St. Patrick—she grew up hearing the great saint preach.
Her father was an Irish chieftain and her mother was a slave in his court. Brigid had a tender heart and could not bear to see others go hungry or cold, and she would often help them by giving away things that belonged to her father. When he protested, she replied, “Christ dwells in every creature.”
Unconvinced, he tried to sell her to another nobleman. While they bargained, she took her father’s treasured sword and gave it to a leper. Her father was so angry, he was about to strike her when she explained that she gave the sword to God through the leper. The nobleman was a Christian and Brigid’s action impressed him—he prevented her father from striking her. Her father had had enough and gave Brigid her freedom.
Brigid’s mother was in charge of the dairy of the kingdom but was aging. Brigid took over responsibility for the work there (hence her patronage of dairy workers), but often gave away what they produced. Nevertheless, the dairy prospered and her mother was freed as well.
A marriage was arranged for her, but she refused and went to her bishop to promise her life to God. She went on to found convents all over Ireland that became centers of learning and spirituality. She took on the authority of an abbot with them and traveled extensively across the island, even in the poor transportation conditions of the time, which led to her patronage of travelers.
Her relics rest in the reliquary chapel of the Basilica, and she is depicted in stained glass in the Dillon Hall chapel. The chapel in McGlinn Hall is named after her, and a statue of her stands there. With St. Patrick, she is a patron of Ireland.
In 2009, the Notre Dame Folk Choir established an initiative that continues to serve the Church in Ireland, called the House of Brigid, or Teach Bhride in Irish. The program invites recent college graduates to live as an intentional lay community for one year, dedicating themselves to the service of the Catholic Church in Ireland and to spiritual and personal formation.
St. Brigid of Kildare, patron saint of Ireland who saw God in all creatures—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Brigid of Kildare is in the public domain. Last accessed January 30, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
