Daily Gospel Reflection
Join the Notre Dame family of faith. Receive God’s Word and a unique reflection in your inbox each day.
May 12, 2019
Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.
The Father and I are one.”
I sometimes find myself disappointed by our frequent comparisons to sheep throughout the Gospels. If Jesus insists on comparing us to animals, can’t we be something a little flashier or more unique? Or better yet, let us choose our own spirit animals! I’ll be a peacock, making a statement and finding my own way. I don’t need the flock to lead me to greener pastures. I can find them on my own!
Upon closer inspection, however, I find that sheep are no dummies. While they do instinctively follow the flock, they also have the ability to distinguish their shepherd’s voice and will follow that voice over all others, thereby keeping themselves out of harm’s way.
In the passage preceding today’s Gospel, Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd, willing to lay down his life for his sheep and lead those who hear his voice through the gate to Heaven. If I, like sheep, had the ability to drown out the other voices, and instead, followed only Jesus, my path of discipleship would be so much simpler. Instead, I am too often led astray by my own personal ambitions and aspirations to be a “peacock.” I want to vainly blaze my own trail. But, why do I think that my way is better? While being a peacock may lead to certain successes in this life, spiritually, I think I’ve missed the point. Maybe I should aspire to be more like a sheep.
“My sheep hear my voice.” In what ways are we listening for Jesus’ voice? How often are we mistakenly being misled by our personal ambitions and desires? Today’s Gospel reminds us that the path to Heaven need not be circuitous. By drowning out the other voices and listening to Jesus alone, we can have eternal life. Looks like the sheep had it right all along.
Prayer
Christ our Good Shepherd, you tirelessly seek out the lost, and you give strength to the weary sinner. In your unfathomable mercy, you never cease to pour out blessings upon those who despair of finding you. Help us to extend this same spirit of consolation to our brothers and sisters in need, and may we always imitate your example of tender care towards the poor. We ask this in your name. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Sts. Nereus and Acheilleus were soldiers in the Roman army who were killed for refusing to participate further in persecuting Christians.
The Church has long honored these two saints, and the only certain history we have about them comes from an inscription that was placed above their tomb by Pope St. Damasus. Though it has worn away, we have records of what it said from pilgrims who visited their tomb and copied down the inscription. It describes the two soldiers who followed orders to persecute and kill Christians until they followed the truth they saw in Christ:
“The martyrs Nereus and Achilleus had enrolled themselves in the army and exercised the cruel office of carrying out the orders of the tyrant, being ever ready through the constraint of fear to obey his will. O miracle of faith! Suddenly they cease from their fury, they become converted, they fly from the camp of their wicked leader; they throw away their shields, their armor, and their blood-stained javelins. Confessing the faith of Christ, they rejoice to bear testimony to its triumph. Learn now from the words of Damasus what great things the glory of Christ can accomplish.”
We do not know how the two were martyred, though they were probably beheaded because they were Roman citizens. We can suppose that they, more than most Christians of the day, knew what consequences they would face because of their profession of faith.
A later legend arose about these two martyrs, which stated that they served Domitilla, the grand-niece of the emperor who was exiled for professing her faith. It is likely that this story is inaccurate, though, and simply comes from the fact that they were buried in a cemetery named after Domitilla.
Relics of these two martyrs do rest in reliquary chapel of the Basilica, however. They are depicted here with Domitilla, who used to be listed as a saint, but was removed due to a lack of historical evidence.
Sts. Nereus and Acheilleus, you were martyred for refusing to follow orders to kill Christians—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of Sts. Nereus and Acheilleus is in the public domain. Last accessed March 6, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
_10-01-2011_10-50-38.JPG){kind=link}