Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 16, 2024
As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath,
his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.
At this the Pharisees said to him,
“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
He said to them,
“Have you never read what David did
when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?
How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest
and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat,
and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them,
“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
My husband Mike and I recently welcomed our first child, Eleanor. We were hyper-prepared for our first in-person Mass with every toy, snack, bottle, and diaper a 5-month-old could use. What followed was a stressful hour.
Somehow, even with a full church, you could hear a pin drop. And with every coo Eleanor made (happy or sad), heads turned. Unfortunately, that made Mike and I feel like we needed to take turns walking her around outside to avoid disturbing the rest of the congregation.
The next day, I asked an online ND Moms group for tips on how to bring a baby to Mass without disturbing others. In addition to some pro tips, Moms in my area also shared their favorite churches and Masses.
We tried the children’s Mass at another nearby church, and it was exactly what we needed. The church was lively. Families filled the chapel. While you could not hear a pin drop, it was peaceful. For example, when we had difficulty getting Eleanor to settle, the mom behind us made silly faces at her. We felt welcome and part of a supportive community.
As Christ said, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.” It’s nice to know that we don’t need to conform to what I once perceived as mandated strictures when attending Mass. It’s even better knowing that because the sabbath was made for man, we are encouraged to take the time to find a church that feels like home to us and allows us to pray as a family.
Prayer
Lord God, how marvelous are your deeds! Holy and awesome is your name. You are Lord and master of all things, of even the Sabbath. May we always strive to keep holy the Lord’s Day and live every day as the gift it is from you. Amen.
Saint of the Day

Titian was born in the middle of the sixth century in Italy to a family of nobles. He was educated by Bishop Floriano of Oderzo and later ordained by him. He devoted himself to serving the poor, and also served as a treasurer of the diocese of Oderzo (a see that no longer exists). When Floriano was moved to another diocese, Titian was chosen the new bishop by popular acclaim. He resisted, trying to get Floriano to return, but eventually assumed the new pastoral responsibilities.
He was a devout man who modeled a holy life for his people and was known as an excellent preacher. Many miracles were said to have occurred at his tomb in Oderzo, and a small relic from St. Titian rests in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
The main body of his relics are the subject of an interesting story. When Oderzo was sacked by invading forces, people from the saint’s hometown of Eraclea tried to steal his relics, which were kept in a bronze urn. A fierce battle between people from Eraclea and Oderzo erupted over the relics and both towns agreed to a unique solution. They placed his relics in a wagon pulled by oxen, and decided that wherever the oxen stopped is where his relics would be housed. The oxen stopped in a town called Ceneda, and his relics remain there today.
St. Titian of Oderzo, you were the faithful bishop who led his people by word and example—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Titian of Oderzo is available for use under a Creative Commons license. Last accessed November 14, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons.