Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 1, 2026
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
Jesus speaks these words during the Last Supper discourse, encouraging the disciples to have faith in the midst of the troubles to come. Immediately before Jesus says, “do not let your hearts be troubled,” he has foretold Peter’s denial. The crucifixion is imminent. The disciples certainly felt confused and afraid. As post-resurrection people, we have seen that God is with us, that there is forgiveness, and that life triumphs over death. What might it have looked like for the disciples to live with untroubled hearts at that moment?
I see a present-day witness to living with untroubled hearts while facing profound challenges in the men and women I meet at the local jail. Twice a month, I have the privilege of serving there as a volunteer spiritual director, speaking individually with those who wish to talk. In our incarcerated sisters and brothers, I see faith that remains despite the obstacles they face, such as mental health issues, addiction, lack of an intimate support system, or no secure place to go when they are released.
Although they are often frustrated with themselves and with the system, they persist in living with courage and hope. They continue to pray every day, even though their circumstances are not unfolding as they would hope. They reach out with compassion to someone else in the jail who is suffering, even though they, too, are suffering. They forgive others and themselves. They repeatedly pick up the pieces of their lives and try again. Their faith is active, hopeful, and loving, even in the circumstances of jail. Their collective witness challenges me to live and love with the faith of an untroubled heart in the midst of my own struggles.
May we each go and do likewise today.
Prayer
No one knows the troubles we suffer, dear Lord, and sometimes our lives are hard to bear. Help us to trust in your consoling words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” You know the depth of all people’s suffering and still you offered yourself on the cross to save us from ourselves, our pride, our self-centeredness. May the Spirit who raised you from the dead raise us up to serve others in their needs today. Alleluia! 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 today's featured stained glass image from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus, and statue from the chapel in Breen Phillips Hall.
St. Joseph, patron saint of workers, you exemplify the dignity of human labor—pray for us!