Daily Gospel Reflection
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March 23, 2022
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
As an automotive engineer working in creative design studios, I am barraged with exhortations to innovate, shake off the shackles of my predecessors’ rules, and create new, never-before-accomplished things. We are trained to ask, “Why?” We are taught that the worst answer imaginable is, “Because we have always done it this way.”
While there is often value in exploring and seeking new solutions to old problems, I have also found wisdom in following the well-beaten path. In working for a company with 113 years of experience, the traditional way has often proven to be the best.
That experience rings in my ears as I hear the words of Christ in today’s passage. His message reminds me that humble obedience to “the law, the prophets, and the commandments” (for us, the teaching and tradition of our Catholic faith), while not glamorous, is the sure way to inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Our culture may glorify and idolize the rebels and rule-breakers, but their example can be a toxic one that tempts us to chase a worldly definition of success rooted in power, riches, and fame.
In today’s increasingly flashy realm of technology, there may be little fame or fortune found in producing something considered unoriginal or hum-drum. But instead, there may be consistency, reliability, and safety, unarguably crucial characteristics when human lives are at stake. So too when a soul’s eternal destination is on the line.
Christ’s words give me pause. What does my example reflect to others? While perhaps perceived as fun and exciting, am I modeling behavior that leads down the path to destruction, or am I demonstrating the humility and obedience to Christ and his Church that gains a heavenly reward?
Prayer
God, we long to enter the kingdom of heaven. We know that there, every tear will be wiped away and all will be made joy and light. Help us to follow the law and the prophets and your loving example. You promise us that in doing so we will be with you in the kingdom where you live and reign forever and ever.
Saint of the Day
Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo was a 16th century Spanish missionary to the new world who defended the rights of Latin American natives.
He was born to a noble family in Spain, and capitalized on a very good education by studiously developing a sharp intellect. He went on to teach law at the famous University of Salamanca. His virtue and wisdom led him to appointments from the king, and he was ordained a priest.
In 1578, he was sent to Peru and named Archbishop of Lima. He often traveled throughout the immense diocese on foot, engaging anyone he met. He learned the local dialects in order to converse with the native people there—he instructed and baptized them. He traveled alone and was exposed to extreme weather, wild animals, tropical diseases, and even threats from hostile tribes.
He was a powerful voice for reform in the new world. The conquistadores exploited the indigenous people, and the clergy were often complicit in this oppression. He was known as a staunch defender of the rights of natives against the Spanish settlers, and though he met powerful opposition from Spanish governors in Peru, he persisted in his advocacy.
In Peru, he built roads and churches, schools, and hospitals, and opened the first seminary in the western hemisphere. It is said he welcomed 500,000 people into the Church in Peru, and among those he confirmed were St. Rose of Lima and St. Martin de Porres.
He died on this date in 1606 from a fever, and his image is used here with permission from Catholic.org. Relics of one saint named Turibius rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica on campus.
St. Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo, who defended indigenous people from Spanish conquistadores—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo is in the public domain. Last accessed February 6, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
