Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 24, 2025
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Although I live in the Midwest now, I grew up near the Appalachian Mountains in East Tennessee. The mountains still have a dear place in my heart as I remember hikes with family and friends And I am still happy that during family visits, my husband and daughter now join in on our hikes.
When I am in the mountains, I remember that there is so much beauty in the creation that God has made. In those moments of awareness and gratitude, it is easier to slow down and listen to the still, small voice of God’s tender love.
In today’s gospel, we see Jesus ascend a mountain to be alone with God the Father. Then, while there, he calls “those he wanted,” and he gives the apostles their teaching and healing mission. As he does with the apostles, Jesus asks each of us to go to a quiet place sometimes—to find beauty and step away from the noise of everyday life. It is here we hear Jesus’ call for each of us.
When I am there, in those beautiful places, I remember that Jesus desires to be with me and has a purpose for my life. What I am doing, if done with love, matters to him. It reminds me of the line from St. John Henry Newman, “God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me, which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.”
May we each accept the summons of Christ today and every day.
Prayer
Eternal God, as we await the coming of your Son in glory, raise up men and women to bring your message of hope to a waiting world. Instill in them an unshakable trust in your divine providence and a zeal for ministry that will inspire your people to a deeper confidence in your saving power. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day

St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of writers and journalists, was a great saint of the Catholic reformation who wrote beautifully on cultivating the spiritual life of the laity.
He was born in France in 1567, the oldest of thirteen children, and received a nobleman's education of the highest caliber. His father expected him to learn gentlemanly arts such as riding and fencing in addition to his studies in the liberal arts. While attending college in Paris, Francis attended a theological lecture on predestination, Francis fell into despair, as he became convinced that he was damned. Nearly three years later, while finishing his studies in Paris, Francis dragged himself to a church and prayed the "Memorare" before a famous statue of Mary.
Shortly thereafter, Francis enrolled at the University of Padua for doctorates in both theology and law. He returned home to Savoy, working as a lawyer and obediently accepting the positions that his father secured for him. But he refused to marry, as his father wished. He signed over his inheritance to his younger brother and was ordained in 1593.
The bishop, knowing Francis’ eloquence and intelligence, sent him to the Swiss city of Geneva, which was controlled by Calvinists, who were hostile to the Catholic faith. Francis trudged through the surrounding area on a mission to convert the Protestant citizens, but the people slammed doors in his face and threw stones at him. In the bitterly cold winters, his feet froze so badly they would bleed. He slept in haylofts when he could, and once he had to tie himself in a tree in order to sleep safely out of the reach of wolves. He was so frozen when he woke that he could not untie himself and had to be cut down. After three years of enduring many trials, Francis had still not made headway in the Calvinist community.
Because no one would open their door to him, Francis began to write clear, simple explanations of the Catholic faith by hand and slide them under doors. Slowly, as people saw his gentle disposition, his simple lifestyle, and heard him speak, they began to listen. By the time he left for home, Francis had converted 40,000 Genevans.
Francis soon became known for his wisdom and insight, and many people wrote him asking for his advice and counsel. He responded to each of these letters with individual attention—essentially offering spiritual direction by correspondence—and especially attended to the uneducated laborers of his day. Some of his letters were collected in the book, The Introduction to the Devout Life, which is still in print today.
Francis de Sales died in 1622 and was named a Doctor of the Church, a title given to thirty-seven saints who are known for elucidating the faith by their words or example. He is a patron saint of journalists and writers, and he is also a patron of deaf people because he used sign language to catechize people with hearing impairment.
Some of St. Francis' relics rest in the reliquary chapel of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus, and his story and image are used by high school students who come to campus for a summer conference with the Notre Dame Vision program.
St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers and journalists—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Francis de Sales is an illustration by Julie Lonneman, who holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of her art. Used with permission.