Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 1, 2023
Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”
One of the hallmarks of the Notre Dame Residential Life experience is that every student is known and welcomed by their rector. As the rector of one of the larger halls on campus, it is a challenging but vital task for me to learn the names and faces of all my residents. In doing that, I am reminded of the line from John’s Gospel today, “I know mine and mine know me.”
In my role, I share my life with my residents. It really is just a minimum to know each of them by name because the charge of the rector goes far beyond, forming deep relationships to accompany residents as they become the best versions of themselves during their time at Our Lady’s University.
My residents often bring friends to our hall, and it is often equally important that I try to get to know the regulars. Here again, I am reminded of the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John for today, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice.” While these students are not officially my residents, I feel a certain responsibility for them and do my best to be present for them.
In our lives, there are times when we are the sheep who desire to be known, belong, and be loved. But sometimes we are called to follow Jesus’ example as the good shepherd to understand and care for our sheep. One of the most profound human desires is to be known and loved, and we are participating in the ministry of Jesus when we do this for others.
In this Easter season, may we shepherd our sheep as Christ shepherds us and be blessed with shepherds who help us feel known and loved.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you have given Jesus authority over all your creatures, over each one of us. He exercises his authority by having become one with us in our flesh and blood, in our struggles and hopes. Help us to be so closely united with Jesus that our truest selves will be molded in Jesus’ likeness. Amen.
Saint of the Day

For centuries, May 1, known as May Day, was celebrated as a traditional springtime festival date in Europe. As the Industrial Revolution changed the face of society, May 1 also became a date on which unions and political activists organized activities to advocate for workers. This day became known as International Workers’ Day, and is especially popular in communist states.
St. Joseph has a traditional feast day on March 19, but for a time, the Church had also honored Joseph during the second week of Easter. In 1955, this feast was transformed to the feast of St. Joseph the Worker and moved permanently to May 1 to highlight Joseph’s patronage of workers and craftsmen.
When pondering Jesus, it is easy for Christians to focus on his divinity and forget the ways in which Jesus shared our humanity. Joseph was a carpenter, and our tradition tells us that Jesus was formed by his foster-father in this same trade, which meant hard work, an attention to detail, patience, and diligence.
Joseph provided for his family as a craftsman who did not earn a lot of money. When they went to the Temple, for example, Joseph offered two doves, which was an allowance for those who could not afford a greater sacrifice. Nevertheless, Joseph was filled with faith—he responded immediately to the promptings of angels in his care for Mary and Jesus, even when he did not understand why. He was also filled with love—he had tender regard for Mary, even when it appeared she was unfaithful to him, and he loved Jesus as his own son.
Relics of St. Joseph rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, including parts of Joseph’s robe and pieces of Jesus’ crib, which would have been made by Joseph. He is depicted in many places around campus, including in this stained glass image from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus, and this statue from the chapel in Breen Phillips Hall.
St. Joseph, patron saint of workers, you exemplify the dignity of human labor—pray for us!