Daily Gospel Reflection
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March 14, 2021
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” This is a line from today’s gospel that bears repeating and, indeed, we have probably heard it again and again in our lives. It is the bumper sticker of the Gospel.
It is worth reflecting on why this line has achieved such popularity. More sophisticated readers of scripture might roll their eyes when they see “JOHN 3:16” emblazoned on a billboard but this one verse actually does a very good job of encapsulating the Good News. It gives us the who (God and his only-begotten Son), what (the incarnation of Jesus), and why (“may have eternal life”) of our salvation.
This passage goes on to show us that we have a role to play in our salvation. We must “believe in him” and “come to the light” in order to accept God’s extravagant offer of salvation. In our journey of faith, this is something that we have to choose to do over and over, in every decision we make.
This is especially true in the season of Lent. The beginning of the reading tells us that Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert so that the people might see it and live. In Lent, we remember that Jesus went into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days. In our Lenten observances, we try to share in Jesus’ trial (in some small ways) so that we can share in his eternal life. He is our truth and our light.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we confess that we have done many things that we are ashamed of, which we would prefer be kept hidden in the dark. Yet we also need to remember that no sin of ours is greater than your love for us. So please grant us the courage to stop hiding and come out into the light of your forgiveness and mercy. Amen.
Saint of the Day
As queen, Matilda paid special attention to the poor of the kingdom—her subjects knew her more as a loving mother than as a ruler.
She was born in 895 in Germany to a royal family. She was raised by her grandmother, who was the abbess of a convent, and ensured that Matilda was well-educated and faithful in her prayer and devotion. Matilda married Henry, who ascended to the German throne shortly after they had their first child together. She was liberal in her charity, which never bothered Henry, who had confidence in her judgment and goodness.
Henry and Matilda shared five children, one of whom, Bruno, is also known as a saint. Another, Otto, became emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Henry spent much time at war, but unified the German people into one kingdom.
After 23 years of marriage, Henry died suddenly, and Matilda was left a widow. Her son, Otto, was elected to the throne, which began a conflict with a brother. The two reconciled, but neither had Henry’s patience with Matilda’s generosity, and they accused her of squandering wealth.
She was exiled for a time, but eventually returned to the royal household and was reconciled with her son, Otto. When he was crowned emperor, he left her in charge of the kingdom, and she established three convents and a monastery. She spent her old age at the convent where she was raised.
St. Matilda’s relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus, and she is also depicted in the stained glass windows of the Basilica. Our featured image of a larger window Matilda holds a scepter and coins as a sign of her generosity to the poor. A second window, shown above, depicts Matilda in prayer with her two sons conspiring in envy behind her. St. Matilda is the patron saint of widows and a patron saint and intercessor for parents who have conflicts with their grown children.
St. Matilda, patron saint of widows and kind queen who cared for the poor despite ridicule from your own children—pray for us!