Daily Gospel Reflection
Join the Notre Dame family of faith. Receive God’s Word and a unique reflection in your inbox each day.
November 16, 2024
Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.’”
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
As a child, I often cried to my parents, begging them to take away my problems. I frequently became overwhelmed by social anxiety and fear of gore, poison, or transformations in movies. Like the widow, I persisted in my journey to betterment. I went to therapy, learned strong coping methods, and tested myself with movies that scared me. After my perseverance, I am now much more confident in social situations, and I have the tools I need to fight my fear.
This is the story that I really want to tell: I saw my problem, I persisted in my effort, and my problems were fixed.
But that’s not the full picture. I know that I am the one who complained as my mom dragged me to therapy. I know that it was my dad, not me, who pushed me to try watching scary movies. And I know that, ultimately, I was the one who wanted to hide, but God led me to the right path through those who loved me.
Jesus’ parable illustrates that when true justice is persistent, it will sway even the most stubborn of hearts. God is infinitely more good than the judge, so God is already working swiftly towards justice. It is not God’s heart, however, that must be swayed through prayer.
I was not the good widow. I was the dishonest judge who just wanted to live life according to my desires (and fears). It was only because of God’s persistence through my parents’ love and patience that I was able to become the man I am today. So, I invite all of us to be more persistent in our prayers; however, we must also learn to be open and to listen to God in our prayers because that is how we can truly know what is just.
Prayer
Our Father, have you heard our cries? Have you heard our calls, our small voices, hoarse and tight? You tell us not to lose heart. Wash our hearts with grace so that we may trust your promise, so that our heavy hearts will not be lost in the night. You promise to send your justice, bright and burning. Will the Son of Man find faith on the earth? Give us this faith, O God. Quicken our hearts, spark and winnow our hope into a flame of love that expects your justice, and rejoices when it blossoms. Amen.
Saint of the Day
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.
