Daily Gospel Reflection

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June 18, 2023

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mt 9:36-10:8
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At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Then he summoned his twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits
to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the twelve apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon from Cana, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Reflection

Conor Clingen ’17
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Jesus had given his disciples wonderful gifts but also a great responsibility to heal the sick and share his message with Israel. It can be difficult to see the moments when God calls us to discipleship in our daily lives. We may be unable to heal the sick or cast out demons, but we are just as called to use our unique gifts to spread God’s love for the world.

I work in sports media. There are a lot of moments when I’ve questioned my purpose. How is what I’m doing helping others? When I graduated from Notre Dame, that question gnawed at me. During that time, I thought of giving up to pursue a more traditional path in life, but God had other plans.

The summer after I graduated, I met the owner of an online sports radio station. He needed someone to broadcast games for St. Joseph High School outside Chicago. I didn’t know much about St. Joseph besides having a legendary basketball coach named Gene Pingatore.

At the time, both the owner of the station and St. Joseph were dealing with financial difficulties, so I volunteered to call the games for free. After all, I needed the experience. In two years of working there, I saw how God’s love worked through Coach Pingatore and the entire community, and I saw the passion and love that this community had for each of its members.

At the time, I didn’t realize why God had brought me to that school. “Without cost, you have received, without cost you are to give.” The Lord called me to make a small sacrifice, and by saying yes, I’ve been blessed with innumerable graces. No matter what we do, there are always ways God is calling us to discipleship.

Prayer

Members of the Holy Cross Novitiate

Eternal God, you reveal the mysteries of the kingdom to those who put their faith in your promise of salvation. As we await the coming of your Son in glory, raise up men and women to bring your message of hope to a waiting world. Instill in them an unshakable trust in your divine providence and a zeal for ministry that will inspire your people to a deeper confidence in your saving power. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Saint of the Day

St. Gregory Barbarigo
St. Gregory Barbarigo

St. Gregory Barbarigo had all the skills for a successful life in politics, but instead dedicated himself to serving the Church.

He was born in 1625, the son of a senator from Venice, Italy. He was a brilliant student, well-educated, and took on the life of a diplomat with his well-connected family. He accompanied the Venetian ambassador to several important negotiations and traveled extensively.

After five years with the ambassador, he returned to Italy to continue his studies and to enter the world of politics. He soon became disillusioned by the political world, however, and sought advice from a cardinal he had met in his travels. Gregory was thinking of becoming a hermit, but the cardinal advised him to pursue his doctorate in law, then become a priest.

Ten years later, Gregory had earned a doctorate in both civil and canon law and was ordained a priest. His skills were valuable to the Church and he soon was named a bishop, and then cardinal.

He was given responsibility for the diocese in Padua, Italy, and he led the Church there with wisdom. He reorganized and enlarged seminaries in his region, adding a library and a printing press, and worked hard to carry out the reforms that the Church was encouraging at the time.

St. Gregory died on this date in 1697. His relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, and his image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.

St. Gregory Barbarigo, you were a strong leader who gave up your life in politics to serve the Church—pray for us!