Daily Gospel Reflection

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May 10, 2023

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Jn 15:1-8
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Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Reflection

Julie Wright Patrick '92
ND Parent
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My husband and I have had the privilege of raising two sons. As they were growing up, bedtime was one of our favorite times. In addition to the various evening routines, we also prayed.

Our prayers included some traditional prayers and then personal prayers of gratitude and praise. When the boys would express concern about upcoming events such as tests or sports contests, we would say, “Remember, God is always with you.” While I am not a scripture scholar, perhaps this gospel was in the back of our minds, guiding us to comfort our boys to remain in Christ and with God always.

Later, both boys chose to leave home at 14 to attend a prep school out of state. Reflecting on this gospel makes me wonder whether the boys were ready for their adventures because they knew they would not be alone; God would be with them, helping them to bear much fruit.

When have we felt God with us, knowing that we would not have been able to do something on our own strength? Sometimes, I am surprised by an unexpected positive outcome; then, I smile when I remember that God has been with me the whole time. I know that personally I need to do a better job of relying on God and acknowledging the Holy Spirit’s presence always and everywhere.

May we each remain in Christ today and bear much fruit.

Prayer

Rev. Thomas O’Hara, C.S.C.

What a comfort for us to realize that we are not alone, for this day we are as connected to you as a branch is to the vine. We flourish because of you, for our vitality comes from you. Even as you prune us and things do not proceed as expected, we are comforted knowing that we will blossom in new ways. Thank you, God, for nurturing us each waking moment of our day. Let us never be parted from you. Amen.

Saint of the Day

St. Solange

St. Solange is patron saint of victims of sexual assault because she died insisting on her faithfulness to Jesus while refusing the advances of a young man.

She was born in ninth-century France to poor parents who were field-workers in a vineyard. At an early age, she dedicated herself to God and took a vow of chastity. Her job on the estate was to tend the sheep. She would spend her time in the pastures in prayer, and had a caring and gentle touch with animals. Several miracles of healing were attributed to her.

A young nobleman—the son of her family’s landlord—heard of her beauty and holiness, and he rode his horse to the pastures where she would tend sheep alone. When she resisted his advances, he grabbed her and placed her on his horse and began to ride off. She wrestled her way free and fell from the horse. Despite being seriously injured, she tried to make an escape, but the young man caught her and killed her with his hunting sword, which she holds in this image from a stained glass window in the Basilica.

St. Solange is also patron of the province of Berry, France, which explains her presence in this Basilica window. Father Sorin and the Holy Cross brothers who founded the University came from France, and brought with them their French devotion—she was popularly venerated in her home region. In the smaller window shown here, she is shown in prayer in the sheep pastures.

St. Solange, patron saint of victims of sexual assault—pray for us!