Daily Gospel Reflection

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July 18, 2023

Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Mt 11:20-24
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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 netherworld.

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.”

Reflection

Grant McElwee ’23
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When I first learned about the opportunity to write FaithND’s reflection for today, I was excited because today is my 22nd birthday. Then I read the gospel and felt an internal struggle. This passage is not a happy story about Jesus performing a miracle but rather a teaching meant to unnerve us.

God’s teachings are supposed to challenge us. While some teachings are comforting and come more naturally to us, like God’s love for the world, there are others I find myself struggling with to this day. There is a value, though, with this struggle because this causes us to try and understand God honestly without self-seeking blinders.

I converted to Catholicism this past April, but before confirmation, I struggled greatly with the teachings on the roles of Mary and the Saints. However, I prayed to God to try and understand the Catholic church’s teachings on this subject. In contrast, I feel most at peace today when I pray a Hail Mary and ask my patron saint, St. Augustine, to pray for me. I found greater truth in its message by struggling with the teaching and asking for God’s guidance.

Normally I would’ve skipped over today’s gospel message because it scares me. But today, I leaned into the struggle, and with God’s help, I found truth in its message—if we witness God’s love, it is our duty to spark noticeable change in our lives.

I have felt God’s presence in my life for about seven years, but I did not change how I lived. Finally, in my senior year at Notre Dame, I decided to repent and make a noticeable change in my life because I knew that was what God called me to do. That decision was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Prayer

Rev. Bob Loughery, C.S.C.

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. Frederick

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: Engraving of St. Frederick by Frederik Bloemaert, ca. 1630