Daily Gospel Reflection

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November 16, 2023

Thursday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lk 17:20-25
Listen to the Audio Version

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

Then he said to his disciples,
“The days will come when you will long to see
one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.
There will be those who will say to you,
‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’
Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.
For just as lightning flashes
and lights up the sky from one side to the other,
so will the Son of Man be in his day.
But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”

Reflection

Stu Fortener '97, M.B.A.
Executive Director of Development for University Relations
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My friends and I have attended the Indianapolis 500 for nearly three decades, and over the years, we have developed pre-race routines, one being that we walk the same path to the track each race day. On our route, we always encounter an individual with a large sign saying, “Repent…the Kingdom of God is Near!!!” And honestly, my immediate reaction is always, “Please don’t come today, God, we have a race to watch!”

One race a few years ago, we arrived late to the track due to increased traffic. As we hurried to the Speedway, we spotted two young boys crying and obviously upset. We were in a rush but stopped and found they had lost their father in the crowd. We searched frantically for their father until, miraculously, we found him among the mass of humanity.

The father reacted strongly. In the first case because he had lost his sons, and secondly, as we would soon find out, because he had just lost the boys’ mother to cancer a few weeks earlier. The race was a way for all of them to find joy in a time of deep loss.

Today’s gospel reminded me of those race day memories, “For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” The kingdom of God is not a future reality. The kingdom is present in each of our lives, but it does not appear in obvious ways nor at convenient times. We often miss experiencing the kingdom of God simply because we are not looking for it. Sometimes, we get too caught up racing through our day to stop and witness God’s presence in the ordinary experiences of our everyday lives.
Today, may we intentionally open our eyes and hearts and be attentive to how the kingdom of God is among us—and within us.

Prayer

Rev. Bradley Metz, C.S.C.

God of all time and seasons, as autumn turns to winter and the days grow shorter, we remember and hope for your holy light in our lives. Give us your grace to see that where there is love, we find you among us—your kingdom here and now. Forgive our failing to love, to reconcile, to be converted. Fill our hearts with your love and give us the courage and strength to share it freely as your beloved sons and daughters. Come Holy Spirit—enkindle with us the fire of your love! Amen.

Saint of the Day

St. Margaret of Scotland

St. Margaret's faith was a catalyst not only to her own holiness but that of her family's.

Margaret was born a princess in Hungary around 1046 and, after her father's exile, spent much of her youth in the court of her uncle, the English king, Edward the Confessor, also canonized a saint. During the Norman invasion, Margaret's family fled from William the Conqueror and ended up shipwrecked on the coast of Scotland. King Malcolm of Scotland took them in and was utterly charmed by Margaret. Margaret and Malcolm fell in love and were married in 1070.

Margaret and Malcolm had six sons and two daughters, and Margaret was as excellent a mother as she was a wife. Margaret carefully supervised the education and religious instruction of her children; her youngest son, David, has also become a canonized saint. Margaret's husband Malcolm had a good heart, but was rough and uncultured and was often irritable and domineering. With patient wisdom and iron resolve, Margaret earned his trust as a counselor with her clear advice and practical wisdom. Through her example of rational goodness and kindness, Margaret softened Malcolm's hot temper and guided him in practicing a life of virtue.

Margaret used her position of great influence to promote the arts and more available education in Scotland. Margaret founded several churches with her husband and initiated dialogues with the hierarchy about reforming abuses of power in the Church. It was Margaret's great delight to make the churches she and Malcolm built beautiful, reflecting God's splendor. Margaret often embroidered priests’ vestments for Mass with her own two hands.

From today's Office of Readings, the office quotes the pastoral constitution from the Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, to celebrate Margaret's saintly witness in marriage:

"True married love is caught up into God's love; it is guided and enriched by the redeeming power of Christ and the saving action of the Church, in order that the partners may be effectively led to God."

Despite her many duties in the court and for her family, Margaret was perpetually faithful to prayer. She gave up sleep in order to have time for devotions and she often meditated on the words of Scripture. During Advent and Lent, Margaret would get up in the middle of the night in order to attend Mass at midnight every night. On the walk home, she would stop to care for the poor beggars, washing their feet and giving them money. The destitute sought her out for aid, and Margaret never refused them. Pious legend claims that Margaret never sat down to eat herself without first feeding nine orphans and two dozen beggars.

In 1093, Margaret died at home in Edinburgh upon hearing the news that her husband Malcolm and one of their sons were killed in battle. Some of Margaret's relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus. Our featured image of St. Margaret of Scotland was created by Matthew Alderman, a 2006 graduate of the School of Architecture.

St. Margaret of Scotland, who helped your husband grow in virtue and taught your children to be saints—pray for us!


Image Credit: Image by Notre Dame alumnus Matthew Alderman, who holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of his art. Used here with permission.