Daily Gospel Reflection
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June 30, 2019
When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.
As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him,
“I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him,
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
And to another he said, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
This passage hits me squarely between the eyes. I have been each of these followers in times when Jesus has called me to follow him. I, too, have eagerly prayed, “Send me, Lord, wherever you would have me go.” There were times when I liked the answer and there were times when the response caused hesitation and fear.
One such occasion happened over the course of several years when I was living and working outside of Boston. I was comfortable there. I grew up in Massachusetts and had friends and family who lived throughout the state. But, within me was a longing and restlessness that I couldn’t quite place a finger on. Through prayer and conversation with dear friends, I began to feel that God was calling me to move to Vermont. It was a surprising feeling. I hadn’t spent much time in Vermont, and I only knew one person who lived there. I remember telling a friend that I wanted to go but my grandparents were in poor health. I had the same doubts and hesitations that Jesus’s followers did.
Thankfully, God is much more patient with us than we are with ourselves. The call did not pass me by. One year after my grandparents passed away, God provided a job opportunity for me in Middlebury, Vermont. I had no clue what I was getting myself into, but I did trust that God would be with me every step of the way. That move to Vermont led to meeting my husband; then, to another move to the Midwest, which brought me to work for Notre Dame. Today, I pray that our trust in God can outweigh our fear of the unknown and that we can step boldly into whatever it is that he might be calling us to!
Prayer
Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, you invite us to commit to you, each according to our capacity. Help us to embrace the opportunity to commit to you with all our hearts. Grant us the trust needed to follow you unreservedly that we may set all fear aside and enter into your joy. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Emma was St. Emma, also known as Emma of Lesum or Emma of Stiepel, and the city she lived in is now called Bremen.
Born in the early eleventh century, Emma was a Saxon princess, descended from the Saxon King Widuking who fought against Charlemagne.
Emma was married off to a wealthy Saxon count. But, soon after their marriage, her husband journeyed to Russia and died. Emma returned to her father's house. Emma had been a headstrong young woman and wife. After her husband's death, however, she developed a new contemplative spirit and devoted herself to good works.
Emma used her family's good standing and wealth to care for the Church, particularly the poor. Her fortune helped construct the Bremen Cathedral, and, more importantly, was used to give life to many of the peasants and destitute in her city.
Legend has it that, after she died, her entire body turned to dust, except for her right hand, which she had used to bestow charity upon the poor. The relic of her hand became an object of much medieval devotion, as Emma lived the truth that those who care for God's chosen—the poor—will receive treasure in heaven.
St. Emma, noble Christian who cared for the poor with your great wealth—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Emma is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed March 11, 2025.
