Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 17, 2023
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.
I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
For I have come to set
a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s enemies will be those of his household.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
“Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is righteous
will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because he is a disciple–
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples,
he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.
The message of today’s gospel—that the Prince of Peace does not come to bring peace—may seem contradictory. Jesus details the interpersonal conflicts that he will ignite, and it’s initially unclear why, with all of this heartache, it’s worth following him. But, as the passage continues, we learn that the Christian life is not about us, and this shift in attention will bring us the peace we so desperately desire.
I started learning this lesson in my first year of teaching: I walked into my classroom desperately wanting to be every student’s favorite teacher. Turns out, it’s pretty tricky to win the hearts of 96 middle schoolers, and I lost a lot of peace trying.
Gradually, I realized that this attitude of my heart hindered me from loving anyone but myself, and even that was a hollow pursuit. Following Christ meant much more than being the nicest or most compliant in hopes of winning affirmation. Sometimes, it meant a lack of peace in my classroom if students didn’t like my decision to keep them accountable for their grammar homework or the fact that not every essay grade was an A. If we listen to Jesus in this passage, we can learn to be at peace with this temporary lack of external peace.
Jesus is not here to bring us peace, but he is peace. When we let go of worrying about how others see us, we can rest in his gaze of love. To lay down our lives is not just an abstract saying or nicety—it’s our call as Christians to surrender every part of our lives to him so that our hearts can be whole and undivided in him.
Prayer
Lord, help us to remain true to our core Christian values, no matter what the price. When it comes to those we love, please help us hold them lightly in our hands, always preserving their freedom, rather than grasping or clinging. Finally, may we always be ready to help those who truly need help. Amen.
Saint of the Day

St. Alexis is a saint who is half-legend, half-man.
Despite his uncertain history, he is depicted in a mural in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart because he is patron of the Pipcus Fathers, who are known as the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The Holy Cross priests are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and wanted to encourage as many other examples of that devotion as possible.
We are told that St. Alexis lived in fifth century Syria and took on the life of a beggar. He was known to be of great virtue, and is honored as a saint. This is the most reliable information we have about him.
An early writer told his story with more detail, referring to Alexis simply as “the Man of God.” Legend has it that Alexis was the only son of a wealthy Roman senator, and had every advantage in the ancient world because of this citizenship. He renounced all of this, though, and begged for food at the doors of a church. He shared all of what he received with other poor people, only taking for himself what was left over.
He got sick and was cared for in a hospital, and he told an attendant his life story. When he died, he was buried in a mass grave. His story got passed around the city, and when the bishop heard that he was a Roman citizen, he ordered Alexis’ body exhumed for proper burial. All they found was his ragged clothing. The saint’s supposed Roman heritage led to his popularity. His story and veneration spread because people identified with him and were moved by his example.
St. Alexis, you gave up a life of privilege to live among the poor and care for the forgotten—pray for us!