Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 5, 2020
The festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
As I read it, this gospel is about trust.
The crowds ask Jesus if he is the Messiah and he responds, “I have told you, and you do not believe.” They have heard his words and seen his signs, yet they still lack the trust that is needed for true belief. Jesus gives them the metaphor of shepherd and his sheep to describe the trust that is required: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”
Three years ago, I experienced what it truly means to trust in God as a sheep trusts the shepherd. I underwent unexpected open-heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. The day before, a Sunday, I was graced with a trifecta of sacraments: Penance, Holy Communion, and what I will always call Extreme Unction (now called the Anointing of the Sick). I may not be the world’s worst sinner, but in preparing for what I feared would be my last confession, I had more than enough sins to confess. I was too well aware, for instance, that my record in caring for the least of Christ’s brothers and sisters was not what it should be; and that God’s return on the investment he made in the gifts he has given me wasn’t that great either. The unknown priest who heard my confession saw that I was a frightened, if penitent, mess, and I will never forget what he told me: “Trust in the mercy of Christ.”
In addition to the normal challenges of our lives, all of us now, with our brothers and sisters around the country and the world, are facing occupation by the twin tyrants of COVID-19 and economic calamity. How will we overcome these frightening challenges as well as all the other, less public ones we confront? Who is going to save us? As we use every skill God has given us to defeat these foes, we should not forget this gospel. Listen for the Lord’s voice, believe him, and follow him. Trust him.
Prayer
Christ our Good Shepherd, you tirelessly seek out the lost and 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
Judith, also known as Jutta, began her life as a wife and mother, and deepened her pursuit of holiness as a wandering hermit after her husband died and her children had grown.
Born to a German aristocratic family in the 13th century, she was married to a noble. She was inspired by St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a contemporary, and heard the Lord call her to follow him. She not only sought to serve God herself, but also led her household to do the same and was known for her support of the poor, in imitation of Elizabeth.
Early in their marriage, her husband thought Judith dressed too simply, and asked her to take on styles more in keeping with the fashions of the upper class. She gradually helped him see the virtue in detachment from material wealth, and he grew in his own faithfulness. He died while on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, leaving Judith to raise their family alone.
Many of her children entered monasteries as they matured, and after all had left the household, Judith gave her life to prayer and caring for the poor and sick. She gave everything she had to the poor except for one ragged dress, and went into the streets to beg for food for herself and for others.
Many people who had known her mocked and ridiculed her, but others treated her with reverence because they knew what she had given up. She wanted to separate herself from their praise, so she left and wandered the countryside, walking barefoot and helping those she encountered on her way.
She made her way into Prussia in 1260 and took up living as a hermit in a ruined building on the shore of a lake. People sought her out for her wisdom, and she was known for having instinctive insight into Scripture. She once said that three things can bring union with God: illness, exile from home, and voluntary poverty.
People who lived nearby reported seeing Judith raised from the ground in prayer, and she received a number of visions. She died of a fever after living in that place for four years, and miracles were reported to have occurred at her grave.
Judith is patron saint of Catholics in Prussia and Germany. The image seen above was reconstructed from her skull using forensic technology.
St. Judith, you were a faithful wife and mother who gave your life to the poor and sick—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Judith is available for use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Last accessed March 6, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
