Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 20, 2021
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
“I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them.”
Has a friend ever told you that he or she has been praying for you? Wow–it’s wonderful and humbling. Did you know that Jesus prayed for you? Yes! Our Lord prayed for you. And what’s even more amazing is the timing of it all. Right before his arrest, Jesus chose to spend his time in prayer for future believers. And that means you.
And what did he ask of God? Unity. He desires us to be one. In this passage, Jesus says the word “one” four times.
Have we felt that unity lately? Instead, many of us have felt isolation. We have lamented the many things that we have lost during these challenging times–things like job transitions, Junior Parents’ Weekend, hugs from older family members, in-person summer internships, in-person church, and more.
Through this entire pandemic, have you felt like the Lord has put all aspects of your life—your priorities, your likes, and your desires into a colander? You know what happens next. The colander gets shaken up and some things drain away. When Jesus prayed for us, his desire was that we would be one. Do you see unity left in your colander? It’s an essential so don’t let it drain out. What else do you see? Let’s get back to Mass when we feel safe to do so and make the Church a top priority. Let’s quit quibbling about the color of the new church carpeting or what was served at the Men’s Ministry Breakfast. Jesus wants us to be one!
The Lord is trying desperately to get our attention, even amidst political divisiveness, social injustices, natural disasters, and yes, pandemics. So remember, Jesus prayed for you. Being unified with Christ and other believers should be a priority. Uniting together in faith will glorify the Lord and be a blessing to us, our families, and our nation. Let’s follow his commandments as we move forward together. It is a true desire of Jesus’ heart.
Prayer
Father, creator of all, you are the center of all life. Everything in this world points to you and leads us to you. Today we ask of you the grace to keep you at the center of our lives, to use you as the reference point of all our thoughts, words, and actions. In serving you, we hope to give our best to all whom we encounter this day. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Bernardine of Siena was such an effective and prolific preacher, the crowds who came to hear him speak would be moved to spontaneously exchange the sign of peace in mass reconciliation.
He was born in Tuscany in 1380, the son of a regional governor. His parents died when he was a child, and he was raised by a pair of aunts. He was a joyful child whom friends found entertaining and merry.
As a teenager, he dedicated his life to prayer and care of the sick. When the plague hit Siena, the biggest hospital in the city threatened to close because of the overwhelming need and the lack of help. Dozens died there every day, and many of the doctors and nurses themselves became sick.
Bernardine rallied some friends around the idea of giving their lives, if needed, to offer care for the suffering. He offered to take over the administration and care of the hospital, and was granted that authority. For four months, the band of men worked day and night to care for the sick. Even though several of them died, the group restored order and cleanliness to the hospital and gave consolation to hundreds of suffering people.
Bernardine did not get sick himself, but was exhausted by the work, and after the epidemic, he returned home to rest. He eventually discerned a call to enter a Franciscan monastery, and in 1403 he was accepted to the order and ordained a priest.
During the following decade, not much happened to Bernardine—he spent his time in prayer and doing the work of the community. His focus on maturing in his interior life would bear fruit in the preaching for which he became famous.
He began preaching in Milan, a city in which he was a complete stranger, and soon he became known for his eloquence, insight, and the energy with which he spoke. Crowds began to gather, and soon he had to preach outside to accommodate all of the people.
He began to travel throughout Italy, always on foot, and covered nearly the entire country during his lifetime. He would preach for hours at a time, sometimes more than once a day. Everywhere he went, he encouraged people to turn from sin.
The effects were extraordinary. In towns that were divided by long feuds, people were reconciled. People who had stolen or swindled goods returned them. He urged people to rely on the mercy of Jesus, and they listened.
He wore himself out with his preaching, and even when it was clear that he was dying, he continued traveling and encouraging conversion. He died in 1444, and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus.
He is patron saint of public relations professionals and advertisers, and his image is used here with permission from the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art on Notre Dame's campus—it is a sketch from Luigi Gregori, the artist commissioned to decorate the interior of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
St. Bernardine of Siena, because your preaching moved crowds to convert, you are the patron saint of public relations professionals—pray for us!
Image Credit: Luigi Gregori (Italian, 1819-1896), Saints Dominic, Joseph, Bernard of Siena, Margaret of Cortona, (detail) n.d., graphite and ink on paper. Raclin Murphy Museum of Art: Gift of the Artist, AA1995.082.011.