Daily Gospel Reflection
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June 10, 2021
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother,
Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
Reflection
The other day, one of my students said to me, “You know, over the past few years I’ve realized that it’s not enough to make amends for what you’ve done wrong. We’re called to work to fix things we didn’t break, too.” What made this insight especially powerful is that my student is in prison, earning his college degree while incarcerated. Even more powerful, he may never get the chance to even try to make things right. It may simply be too late for that. And yet, God has taught him that reconciliation is a ministry in which we are all called to participate.
In today’s gospel, Christ builds on his message of repentance, a message that is not only essential but quintessential in the Kingdom of God. But he also makes clear that seeking God’s forgiveness for our sins is only part of what is required. In addition, we are called to seek forgiveness from those we have wronged—even to seek that human reconciliation first—and only then should we even attempt to come clean with God. In this, Christ reiterates that we are called to love both God and neighbor, and any attempt to stop at God is abortive.
Jesus’ analogy of imprisonment is not exaggerated. I can only imagine how often my students dwell on their mistakes. In a very real way, they know they “will not be released until [they] have paid the last penny”—and then some. My prayer for all of us is that we may be able to learn to seek forgiveness before it takes prison—literal or figurative—to teach us that lesson. And that we do it quickly so we can get to work fixing things we didn’t break, too.
Prayer
Lord, you know all too well that it is so easy for us to hold on to resentments, to live with anger even at the slightest of offenses. Help us to forgive and reconcile with each other, so that we may come to know and accept your mercy in our lives and extend that same mercy to others. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Henry was a man who did everything he could to get to heaven.
He was born in northern Italy around 1250 to very poor parents. He never received an education, and could not read or write. He lived as a day worker in a city called Treviso, and this is how he provided for his wife and child.
When both his wife and child died, Henry dedicated himself to prayer and service to the poor. He continued to work as a laborer, but gave away everything he earned to people living in poverty. He sought only to serve God—if he wasn’t working, he was in a church attending Mass, praying, or having his confession heard.
Some biographies go out of the way to note that he was an odd-looking man—thick-set, short, with sunken eyes, a crooked mouth, and a long nose. Mean people and children would see him as an easy target and sometimes tease or mock him, but he responded only by praying for them. Most other people noticed him as a holy man, even if he wore ragged clothes and seemed to not fit in.
When Henry got old and could no longer work, a citizen sheltered and fed him. Henry secretly would give away to the poor most of the food that was intended for him. Even when he was extremely weak, he would continue to walk through the region to visit churches every day.
When he died on this date in 1315, the people of Treviso crowded to his room, seeking some artifact or relic. They found very little, however: some straw on which he slept, a log that served as his pillow, and a hair shirt that he wore as penance. When his body was moved to the cathedral, people broke into the church seeking some contact with Henry. At least 276 miracles were recorded within a few days of his death.
The reliquary chapel in the Basilica contains relics from two holy men named Henry—one is St. Henry, king, whose feast day is in July, and another is simply denoted with the name Henry and might be from this man.
Blessed Henry of Treviso, though you worked as a simple day laborer, you gave away all you earned to the poor—pray for us!