Daily Gospel Reflection
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June 15, 2023
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.”
As the parent of a theatre kid, I’ve seen my fair share of musicals over the years. The Broadway channel is almost always playing in my car, and if I give you a ride, you better be ready to play “name that show tune.” So you can imagine what a blow it was to my musical theatre ego when my daughter’s first professional job was Godspell, an acclaimed and popular show that I knew absolutely nothing about.
First performed off-Broadway in 1971, Godspell features ten actors who sing and act out
parables from Matthew’s Gospel, culminating in the Passion of the Christ. The musical explores the universal themes of forgiveness, mercy, kindness, and community. Today’s reading includes one of the parables featured in the show, focusing on the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation among humans.
When this parable is arranged on stage, the actors use their intertwined bodies to create an altar. Their castmate approaches the altar to present her gift, and the actor playing Jesus commands: “First, go and make peace with your brother.” Begrudgingly, the woman humbles herself and journeys to reconcile with him. The stage direction in the script reads that she is to “bend down and give him a kiss on the cheek.”
This simple gesture of forgiveness presents a clear metaphor for how Jesus wants us to treat one another. When the woman returns to the altar to attempt to offer her gift once again, it is now accepted, and the actors rejoice.
As displayed so beautifully in Godspell, today’s parable inspires and commands us to embrace and exhibit the radical forgiveness that Jesus so powerfully manifests toward us. Above all else, we are called to beg forgiveness of, and forever freely grant forgiveness to all of our sisters and brothers here on Earth so that we may reunite with them again in heaven.
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

St. Edburga was the daughter of Saxon king, Edward the Elder of England, and was born in the early tenth century, around 920 AD, before the Norman Conquest of England. In the twelfth century, a legend of her life was written down by Osbert de Clare,
According to this legend, when Edburga was only three years old, her father was trying to decide whether she would be called to live in the world or as a religious sister. On one side of the table, he placed rings and bracelets, and on the other, a chalice and a book of the Gospels. When Edburga was brought in to the room, she reached for the chalice and the book.
Edburga was given over to the monastery that her mother sponsored, St. Mary's Abbey in Winchester. Edburga received her education there and stayed to profess vows.
In the monastery, Edburga did not seek special treatment on account of her noble lineage, although that was common practice at the time. Instead, she delighted in cleaning the shoes of the other wealthy nuns. Some tales say she washed their stockings for them while everyone else slept. Her humility led her to occasionally receive unjust punishments, but she accepted them gladly.
St. Edburga died on June 15, between the years 950 and 960. Veneration of this good and holy prioress began almost instantly after her death, and she was canonized in 972.
St. Edburga of Winchester, who chose religious life over the royal court—pray for us!