Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 8, 2022
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.”
There is so much love, comfort, and hope in today’s short but powerful gospel reading. Like so much of Jesus’s words, all we have to do is hear them, absorb them, trust them, and through them, live anew.
“My sheep hear my voice, I know them.”
God knows us. Not just us as a collective whole of humanity but as each person, each individual. He knows me. He knows you. Each of us is the one sheep that God longs to have at home.
“No one can take them out of my hand.”
We are each God’s beloved sons and daughters. No one can take God away from us. Like a mother or father holding on to their child in a crowd, he never lets go of us. Indeed when the rush is tremendous, he holds us the tightest, drawing us closest.
Today we celebrate Mothers Day. It is that special day when we honor and remember those women in our lives who have made God’s love for us a reality. They brought us into this world, loved us, and helped shape us as we live our lives.
For my mother and all those with mother figures who are still with us, know you are loved. Happy Mother’s Day. For my wife’s mother and all those with mother figures who have passed away, know you are loved and missed. Happy Mother’s Day. Your memory is a blessing now and always.
Notre Dame, Our Mother, tender, strong and true, pray for us.
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
Peter of Tarantaise lived his vocation as a monk to the fullest.
He was born in 1102 near Vienne and joined a Cistercian monastery at the age of 20. He lived with such modesty, charity, and humility that people were moved and changed when they spent time with him. He was such a great witness of the religious life that many others followed him and joined the abbey as well. In fact, his whole family followed him and joined communities of their own—his mother, father, and siblings!
He was appointed as leader of a new monastery that was established at a crossroads in the desert mountains, and the community became known as a resting place for travelers. Peter began a hospice there for sick and poor travelers.
Soon, against his will, he was elected Archbishop of Tarentaise. He wanted to remain with the community, living a life of prayer and service, but had to be compelled to take on this leadership role. He obeyed, and found his new diocese to be in a terrible state—the clergy there were known for corruption and immorality. In a short time, Peter reformed the diocese—he established a strict rule for clergy, elevated good priests to pastoral roles, established new foundations to care for the sick and the poor, and constantly visited the people he served.
Miracles were attributed to him during this time—healings, and the multiplication of food during a famine. He became widely known as a wonder-worker, which increased his longing for the solitude he found in his life as a monk. After 13 years as archbishop, he one day suddenly vanished without a trace.
He was discovered one year later in a remote Cistercian abbey in Switzerland, where he had joined the community under an assumed name as a lay brother. He was ordered to return, and was warmly greeted when he got back to Tarentaise. He redoubled his efforts at leading the diocese, and took even greater care of the poor—twice he endangered his own life by giving away his own cloak in severe weather.
Religious and state authorities turned to Peter, a man of great peace, in moments of conflict so that he could effect reconciliation with his words and presence. He preached outspokenly and fearlessly in disputes over the papacy and between the kings of France and England, and his words were backed by miracles of healings. He died during one of his journeys for such a cause.
St. Peter’s image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.
St. Peter of Tarentaise, you tried to run away from your duties as a bishop, but became known as a man of great peace—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Peter of Tarentaise is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed March 6, 2025.