Daily Gospel Reflection

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January 21, 2024

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mk 1:14-20
Listen to the Audio Version

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.

Reflection

Mary Thompson '23, M.B.A.
ND Parent
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This gospel passage always intimidates me! I imagine myself in the midst of folding laundry, preparing a meal, or perhaps watching my grandchildren, and Jesus calls me! First, am I listening well enough to hear and recognize his voice? And if so, do I respond as his disciples did, dropping everything to follow him, or maybe even like Mary, allowing God to use her for holy purposes? Could I possibly summon that type of courage?

Then I remember who is asking; it is the God I have gradually learned to trust through a lifetime of evidence—the God who is all good and wants nothing but good for me. It also helps to recall that God always takes the initiative with us by preparing us ahead of time for the missions he chooses for us, even when we don’t realize it at the time.

God prepared Mary to be the mother of Jesus from the very moment of her conception in her mother’s womb. God also prepared Jesus’ disciples in the person of John the Baptist as well as through the prophets and Scriptures they knew so well. They were waiting and hoping for this very moment in time, and they didn’t miss it when it arrived in Galilee!

Lastly, what “nets” exactly is God asking us to abandon—perhaps sinful habits, excessive worry, or other stresses that aren’t good for us and don’t bring peace or joy anyway? I think Christ is asking us the same thing that he asked of his disciples so long ago: will you die to yourself and your personal agenda and let Jesus live in you a little more each day? What is one small way that we can do that today?

Jesus still calls us to be his disciples in a world that so desperately needs them. The question is, will we hear and respond?

Prayer

Rev. Steve Lacroix, C.S.C.

Almighty God, the first Apostles, left everything behind when Jesus invited them to follow him. Give us that same courage so that we might follow you joyfully. Do not allow us to cling to the familiar things of this world, but instead, increase our faith in your divine providence. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint of the Day

St. Agnes

St. Agnes is one of the most famous early Christian martyrs and is mentioned in one of the Eucharistic prayers of the Mass. She is a patron saint of those seeking chastity and purity because of the legend around her martyrdom.

The story is told that Agnes was a stunningly beautiful girl of thirteen who lived in Rome when Emperor Diocletian began violently persecuting Christians in 303. Young nobles asked for her hand, but she declared herself the bride of Christ. Rebuffed, the young men formally accused her of being a Christian, and she was arrested and brought to trial.

The judge first began to entice her to deny her faith; she flatly refused. He soon turned to threats, and when they had no effect, he had instruments of torture brought forth. Agnes only grew in joy.

The judge knew she valued her purity above all, and threatened to expose her in a house of prostitution, that anyone in the city could come to defile her. “You may stain your sword with my blood,” she said, “but you will never be able to profane my body, which is consecrated to Christ.” The men who approached her in the brothel were awed by her holiness and left her alone.

Her suitors were by now enraged at her stubbornness, and they enticed the judge to order her beheaded. It is said that she went to the place of her execution as joyfully as if she were headed to her wedding.

This legend cannot be proven true, and is likely full of elaboration. Based on archeological evidence, however, it is true that a young girl of thirteen, a virgin named Agnes, was martyred in Rome and honored for her sacrifice. A church was built over her tomb, and her relics venerated.

Agnes is often represented with a lamb because the Latin word for lamb, agnus, resembles her name. Additionally, some traditions say that she was killed by being stabbed in the throat—similar to how lambs are slaughtered.

On this date every year, two white lambs are blessed in the church in Rome that is dedicated to her. The lambs are cared for until it is time for their shearing, and their wool is woven into pallia, small round collars. The pallia are laid upon the altar above the tomb of St. Peter and then sent to new archbishops around the world as a symbol of their authority and union with the pope.

St. Agnes is represented in today's featured image of the mural from the walls of the Basilica.

St. Agnes, the courageous young girl who placed faithfulness over death—pray for us!