Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 15, 2020
Jesus said to his disciples, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
“You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
“You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”
In this gospel passage, John relates Jesus’ farewell sermon to his disciples after the Last Supper on the night before he died. Jesus tells them about love in the form of friendship. He calls them his friends. He says no one has greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend. The next day, on Good Friday, Jesus laid down his life for us, his friends, in the greatest act of friendship.
In this time of COVID-19, there have been many courageous acts of love and friendship by first responders, nurses, and doctors in healing the sick and ministering to the dying. Many others have befriended all of us with simple, brave acts like checking us out at grocery stores and pharmacies.
At the height of the pandemic, a Passiac, New Jersey firefighter and EMT, Israel Tolentino, Jr., had continued working some shifts as an EMT when he was not fighting fires. In late March, Israel died from complications due to COVID-19. His fire chief said, “This is a clear line of duty death.” Israel was 33 years-old and is survived by his wife, Maria, and a 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son. His story reminds us of the thousands of people who are making courageous sacrifices to help others in this challenging time. As Jesus said, “No one has greater love than this.”
Jesus calls us to love one another as friends. We are both children of God, our Father, and friends of Jesus, his Son. Jesus is both our friend and our king. He commands us to share this friendship, his love, with one another.
Prayer
Almighty and Eternal God, In you we live, move, and have our being. In you alone, we find security, safety, and peace. On this Armed Forces Day, we commend to your keeping all our men and women who serve in our military forces: the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, and the Space Force. Bless them, and may they always know our gratitude for their service to our country. We pray for those who face danger and put their lives at risk so that we might live in safety. Defend them by your heavenly power and keep them always in your loving care. Grant this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Saint of the Day
In the 13th century, two ancient marble tombs were discovered in a city near Antwerp, Belgium. Buried inside were the bodies of two saints: St. Dymphna and St. Gerebernus.
When the relics of these two saints became known to the city, a number of healings were attributed to their intercession. Those suffering from epilepsy and mental illness suddenly found health through prayer to these saints.
Little is known of these saints, so popular belief filled in their history. It is thought that Dymphna was daughter to an Irish tribal king and a Christian princess, who baptized the girl and raised her as a Christian.
When Dymphna was a teenager, her mother died, leaving her father beside himself with grief. He searched the civilized world for a woman who looked like his deceased wife, but found none. Dymphna’s own beauty reminded him of his wife, and he made an advance upon Dymphna, but she escaped.
Her spiritual advisor was an old priest and family friend named Gerebernus. He advised her to leave the country, so together they fled to Belgium and found a small chapel near Antwerp. They decided to live there, both adopting a life of solitude and prayer.
They did not know that Dymphna’s father was pursuing them. He searched the countryside for his daughter, and finally caught wind of where she might be hiding. He discovered them and tried to convince them to return to Ireland. When they refused, he killed both Dymphna and Gerebernus.
The relics of St. Dymphna rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus.
St. Dymphna, patron saint of those who suffer from mental illness—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Dymphna is an illustration by Notre Dame alumnus Matthew Alderman '06, who holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of his art. Used here with permission.