Daily Gospel Reflection
Join the Notre Dame family of faith. Receive God’s Word and a unique reflection in your inbox each day.
July 18, 2021
The apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat.
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.
People saw them leaving and many came to know about it.
They hastened there on foot from all the towns
and arrived at the place before them.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
I’m immediately drawn to the contrast between resting and hastening in this gospel passage. Other bible translations say that the people ran after Jesus and his apostles. As a runner myself, I know the necessity for rest days while training for a big race, and I also can relate to the feeling of adrenaline pumping at the start of the race.
The apostles experienced the need to rest after teaching and performing works in Jesus’ name. Jesus invites the apostles to come away and rest with him. At the same time, a crowd saw Jesus and his apostles leaving on a boat and quickly followed after them, their excitement palpable. I imagine these people running just like many of my fellow classmates and I did onto the field after the victory over Clemson this past fall. I remember my heart racing and adrenaline pumping after witnessing a tremendous game.
What would it feel like to be able to balance running towards the Lord and pursuing truth at every moment while also stopping to rest with him when needed?
For me, I am inspired by the crowd in this passage because it seems they don’t have any distractions in their pursuit of Jesus. Often, I desire the truth God has to offer but am easily distracted by the world around me. I am also struck by how quickly Jesus drops everything to teach the crowd. Though he is showing his followers that resting with him is important, he sacrifices his own needs when he encounters so many who desire his presence and compassion. Like a tired runner helping another to finish a race, Jesus loves us enough to stay with us and teach us many things.
Prayer
Dear Lord, as we go about our homes and work, let us bring your presence with us. Let us speak your peace, your grace, your mercy, and your perfect order to all we meet. Give us a fresh supply of strength to do our work. Let even our smallest accomplishments bring you glory. When we are confused, guide us. When we are burned out, infuse us with the light of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for being our source of life! Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Frederick was the beloved bishop of Utrecht who challenged his flock—including the empress Judith of Bavaria—to live a Christian way of life. Frederick was born around 780.
Frederick was prepared for his pastoral vocation at a young age. He was ordained a priest and sent to a mission diocese in the northern region of the Netherlands and Germany. In the more rural areas, incestuous relationships were common, and Frederick worked hard to change this tradition. This caused many of the villagers to resent Frederick.
Frederick was appointed the Bishop of Utrecht around 815. It was in this role that he called upon the empress Judith to cease her debaucherous lifestyle at court. Either the empress or disgruntled members of his congregation hired hitmen to do away with Frederick. The latter is most likely.
Frederick was assassinated on July 18 , 838, after celebrating Mass at the Cathedral in Utrecht. His dying words were those of psalmist: "I will praise the Lord in the land of the living." Frederick is the patron saint of the deaf.
St. Frederick, bishop and martyr who called his flock to conversion—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Frederick is in the public domain. Last accessed March 19, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
