Daily Gospel Reflection
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March 14, 2022
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”
Everyone faces the judgment, condemnation, and forgiveness Jesus describes in today’s gospel. We’ve all participated in both sides of it many times.
I experienced this most keenly in the course of the most significant trial I’ve ever undertaken. Unfortunately, I got this cycle of judgment, condemnation, and forgiveness all wrong. I judged a dishonest person as good and then arrogantly condemned others who tried to tell me otherwise. It led me to be judged and condemned. But most importantly and mercifully, the third part of the tercet came true: I was forgiven.
Our family is ten years out from that unexpected ordeal and the uncertain path forward at that time. Early on, God’s love for us helped us understand that the challenge had to be encountered as a faith journey. In response, we celebrated a Mass with our Congregation of Holy Cross pastor. We were infused with grace by the Holy Spirit with friends and family surrounding us, replacing our fear with hope.
Thanks to God’s love and the gifts God gave us, we made it. Through the embrace of our kind and loving family, friends, acquaintances, and even anonymous strangers, we knew hope. We prayed for strength and patience, and God delivered those things and more. Indeed, God provided these gifts in good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, poured into our laps.
We know very well that blessings can follow burdens, just as forgiveness can follow judgment and condemnation. May we humbly pray that in a world of condemnation and judgment, we can all become agents of God’s forgiveness.
Prayer
God, the greatest gift we can give you is being merciful to our sisters and brothers. In order to forgive, however, we have to let go of the pain we hold. Letting go of those hurts is a hard sacrifice—help us to die to ourselves willingly so that we can live in your 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!