Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 14, 2026
Jesus began to reproach the towns
where most of his mighty deeds had been done,
since they had not repented.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum:
Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the nether world.
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom,
it would have remained until this day.
But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
As a recent graduate, I cannot help but draw a comparison between the miracles witnessed by Chorazin and Bethsaida and the many examples of faith I encountered at Notre Dame. I had the opportunity to study Scripture under distinguished professors, regularly attend Mass alongside my fellow students, and learn from my brothers in Bible study and through spiritual conversation encouraged at Our Lady’s University. As I reflect on this comparison, I can’t help but think that I too fall short despite the many examples of faith that have surrounded me at ND and beyond.
Most recently, I have found myself falling short of Christ’s example in my free time before bed, often scrolling on my phone instead of taking time for nightly prayer. The internet offers a wealth of resources to deepen my faith (the daily gospel reflection is just one example), yet I often find myself distracted by social media instead.
However, today’s reading not only cautions us through the shortcomings of Chorazin and Bethsaida but also reminds us of the saving power of repentance. As Catholics, we are always invited to the sacrament of reconciliation. Through confession, we acknowledge the times we have fallen short and leave renewed in faith and forgiven of our sins.
This week, I encourage everyone to find the time for confession and intentional reflection. As I work to move away from my scrolling habits, I enter this week with the goal of making the time instead for guided examens as I prepare for confession later in the week. I pray that we may all find the courage to learn from the example of Chorazin and Bethsaida.
Prayer
Forgiving God, help us to repent of our sins and failings, and renew our lives by our imitation of you Son. May we be always grateful for the mighty deeds you have done for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Kateri Tekakwitha was a Native American who was known as the “Lily of the Mohawks" for her purity and devotion.
She was born in 1656 in what is now New York; her indigenous name is Tekakwitha. Her father was a Mohawk warrior, and her mother was an Algonquin who was captured and brought into the Mohawk tribe.
When she was four years old, both of her parents and her brother died of smallpox. Tekakwitha survived the disease, which left scars on her face and damaged her eyesight; she was adopted by her extended family. As she grew up, she would avoid social gatherings because of her scars and sometimes wore a shawl or veil over her face.
When she was 17, Tekakwitha’s family encouraged her to marry, but she refused. Soon after that, she met a Jesuit missionary and began learning about the Catholic faith. When she was 19, she was baptized and took the name “Catherine,” or “Kateri,” after Catherine of Siena.
Because of her faith and her unusual reluctance to conform to traditional practices to marry, Kateri was shunned by her family and village. They ridiculed her, gave her difficult workloads, and threatened her. She left her home village to live in a Jesuit mission for Native Americans on the St. Lawrence River south of Montreal.
She continued to grow in the faith there, practicing rigorous mortifications. In 1679, Kateri formally dedicated her virginity to God and encouraged a number of other women who felt the same calling.
When she was 24, her health faltered, in part due to her zealous fasting and harsh bodily disciplines. Kateri died during Holy Week in 1680. She is reported to have appeared to several of her friends and family after her death, telling them that she was “on her way to heaven,” and many cures were reported by people who appealed to her for help in prayer.
St. Kateri was canonized in 2012 following a miracle in Washington State when a boy was cured of a flesh-eating bacterium through her intercession. The chapel in Welsh Family Hall is named after St. Kateri Tekakwitha, and the image and statue shown above are displayed there.
St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks—pray for us!