Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 5, 2020
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to little ones; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
“All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Every Christian is called to have an intimate and constant prayer life with God. It is from our prayer that we receive our nourishment for the pilgrimage of life. This spiritual sustenance is the life-giving presence of God. It is the beginning of life in the Kingdom in which we encounter and intimately know Jesus Christ. It is the revelation of the Father through the Son. In a word, this spiritual sustenance—prayer—is the beginning of the beatific vision in heaven.
Prayer and knowledge of the living God depends upon grace. This means that no human contrivance of intelligence or study, when lacking faith or love, can bring us to the reality of Jesus Christ’s living presence. No amount of scientific data, historical documents, or even miracles—no amount of seeing—can satisfy our spiritual hunger to see the Kingdom. Recall that after Jesus had fed the five thousand, the crowd demanded yet another miracle from him to believe that he was the Messiah.
It is the eyes of the soul—not the eyes of the body—that reveal the Kingdom. It is the eyes of the soul that use the light of faith, hope, and love. It is the eyes of the soul that gaze upon Jesus and receive his peace in prayer.
The consoling gift of spiritual sight is one that the Father eagerly awaits to give to everyone equally, but it is always the little ones who are humble enough to ask. All we must do is knock at the door of prayer, and our loving Father will answer.
Prayer
Loving God, your Son holds out to us his heart. It is wounded by hatred and suffering, but his desire for us is not diminished. Help us to know the depth of his longing for our salvation and to grow in imitation of his love. We make this prayer in his name, for he is Lord forever and ever. Amen.
Saint of the Day
When she was born and baptized in 1271, Elizabeth of Portugal was named after her great-aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and she grew up to emulate her aunt in holiness.
As a child, Elizabeth tried to imitate the virtue she saw in other people. She was known for her prayerfulness, obedience, and service to others.
As a young girl, she was married to the king of Portugal. The king did not match her piety with his own lifestyle, but allowed her whatever freedom she wanted to practice her faith. She consistently prayed at several points during her day, and attended Mass every morning. She was modest in the food she ate and the clothes she wore, and dedicated her life to serving God.
She was especially known for her service to the poor. She ordered people in her kingdom to give food and shelter to anyone they found traveling or living on the road. She, herself, would seek out people living in poverty and would help them in whatever way she could. She gave dowries to poor girls and established a hospital and orphanage. She also founded a home where women could escape exploitation and begin a new life.
Her husband was a considerate and generous ruler, but his personal life was a mess—he was selfish and unfaithful, which caused great scandal. Elizabeth devoted her energy to their two children.
Elizabeth was known as the “peacemaker” because at several points in her life, she brought about reconciliation between men who were competing for power, even between her husband and her son when he had grown. She is known to have averted several wars.
When her husband got sick, she cared for him night and day and helped him die a holy death. Then she went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, and spent the rest of her life living near a convent that she founded. She followed the way of St. Francis and lived with great simplicity.
Elizabeth died while traveling to visit rulers in an effort to urge reconciliation. Her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Elizabeth of Portugal, you were the quintessential peacemaker who averted wars with your faithfulness—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Elizabeth of Portugal is in the public domain. Last accessed March 19, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
