Daily Gospel Reflection

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July 2, 2023

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mt 10:37-42
Listen to the Audio Version

Jesus said to his apostles:
“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 a righteous man
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 the little one is a disciple—
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

Reflection

Marisa (McCafferty) Peterson ’07
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I am the mother to four young children. Everywhere we go throughout our day, their water bottles go with us. When their water is inevitably empty, it is too late for reasonable discussion. They have reached desert-level thirst. Their typically polite requests are now shouted as desperate pleas.

To be fair, there isn’t a good time to run out of water, but it usually happens when our family is stuck in traffic on the freeway. In desperation, we don’t realize how badly we need water until it is scarce. This type of desperation is also true of our relationship with Christ.

Our prayers to God usually begin as questions, then suggestions, and by the time we are thirsty with need, we are shouting to the Lord in a desperate plea, “Lord, quench my thirst!”

A few weeks ago, as our baby turned six months old, our 2-year-old broke her femur. I found myself stuck metaphorically on the freeway of life with four thirsty children and no cold water to give. I looked to the Lord, begging for help. Jesus answered my prayers through our community—a friend put us on a meal train.

I was initially uncomfortable receiving Jesus’ radical hospitality—I feared inconveniencing others. Today’s gospel jolted me out of my comfort zone: “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

I decided I would say yes to every offer of help that came our way. It felt awkward, but then something beautiful happened. Families reprioritized their summer schedules to help us. They poured out cup after cup of Holy water by giving of their time and effort. The love we have received has humbled us to our core, and we have never felt closer to the Lord.

So when we find ourselves thirsty on these hot summer days, remember the best way to quench that eternal thirst is by giving despite the inconvenience and openly receiving God’s love through others.

Prayer

Rev. Herbert Yost, C.S.C.

Lord God, we are thankful that we may come before you, confused, even puzzled at times of our failures and weakness in serving you. We know that if we seek forgiveness, we shall find it. You have assured us that even the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner turning back to the Lord of love and forgiveness. Hear our prayer, Lord, and look not at our failures, but at our hearts that desire to be one with you. Let us honor you in word and deed, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saint of the Day

St. Monegundis

Monegundis was a woman who lived in Chartres, France, in the sixth century. She married and had two children, both daughters, whom she adored.

Both of her daughters died in childhood, and Monegundis was thrown into a deep depression. She decided to fill the hole in her life with devotion to God, and she began to spend her time in prayer.

With her husband’s permission, Monegundis became an anchoress—a person who lived in a small, walled-up cell attached to a church. Such people spent their days in prayer, and acted as a spiritual director for many who would come to visit them and speak to them through the one, small window in their cell.

Monegundis lived on nothing but bread and water, and her cell was furnished with only a small mat on which she would sleep for a few hours. After living this way for several years, she moved to Tours and built a hermitage near the tomb of St. Martin of Tours.

Over time, Monegundis became known as a holy woman, and other women began to join her there in a life of solitude and prayer; eventually, they built a convent there. She died of natural causes around the year 570, and miracles were reported at her tomb.

St. Monegundis, you were the mother who grieved the death of both of your daughters by giving yourself to God—pray for us!