Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 19, 2023
Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, “You are the Son of God.”
He warned them sternly not to make him known.
Jesus is God and man. This is illustrated in today’s passage as Jesus the man has a boat ready to escape harm, if necessary, from the bustling crowds seeking his divine healing powers as the Son of God.
Most of us are fortunate to escape our daily duties with a few days off or a getaway when we need to decompress. The holiday season, spring break, and summer vacations offer us opportunities. Do we use this time to indulge only our own desires or find moments for prayer and self-reflection too? Can we incorporate time into our daily routine to help others?
There is also the dichotomy of large crowds following Jesus for his healing power and the disciples who were followers of Jesus out of love. Are we part of the crowd looking out for our benefit, or do we strive to be true believers in Jesus as our loving savior?
I struggle with these challenges living in a nice, comfortable suburb. I know there are those with intense daily struggles and heartache living only a few miles from me, but it’s easy to forget when they are out of sight. What can I do to share Christ’s love with those in most need near me everyday?
Lord God, please give us the faith, strength, and courage to seek your peace and share it with others.
Prayer
Lord, in you we trust, and you will not allow this trust to be in vain. You rescue us from stumbling so that here on earth we will walk in the light of your hope and in the strength of your grace. May we always through faith hear your voice and be ready to do your will. Amen.
Saint of the Day
As king of Denmark, St. Canute expanded the Church’s reach and power, and he is remembered as the first Danish saint—and the namesake of Notre Dame’s most famous football coach.
He was born in 1042, and ascended to the throne in 1080. He was ambitious and devout—he appropriated land for the Church and arranged for the support of clergy by enforcing tithes. He was generous in building churches and schools.
Canute was the grandson of another king Canute, who reigned over England, Denmark, and Norway in his age, and the young Canute imagined himself the rightful heir to this territory. He assembled his fleet to invade England in 1085, but was delayed by infighting and the attack was eventually abandoned.
Though he made the Church into a strong ally, he alienated his subjects by strictly enforcing tithes and the observance of feasts. A rebellion arose, and at one point, Canute was cornered by rebels in one of the churches he built. Canute received Communion and confessed his sins, even as bricks were being thrown through the windows. The rebels eventually broke through the doors and stormed inside, slaying Canute at the altar, along with his brother and 17 others.
Though he is noted as a martyr, it is not clear that he died for the faith, and his cause for sainthood might have been politically-motivated. Nevertheless, there were reports of miracles happening at his tomb. He was canonized in 1101, and as the first Danish saint, he is patron of Denmark. St. Canute is also the namesake of Notre Dame football coach, Knute Rockne (who immigrated from Norway).
Relics of St. Canute rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, and the image of his slaying is used here with permission from Catholic.org.
St. Canute, patron saint of Denmark and Notre Dame’s Knute Rockne—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Canute is in the public domain. Edited from the original. Last accessed November 22, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons.
