Daily Gospel Reflection
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November 27, 2020
Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.”
Today’s gospel reading comes at a time when we are about as far away as possible from the trees budding into flower and leaf. In most parts of the U.S., Thanksgiving weekend is a time when the leaves have all fallen from the trees and we are preparing for the cold of winter to take hold in earnest.
The tree buds that Jesus invites us to consider in today’s reading are a sign of the times, indicating that “summer is now near.” Their presence is noticed by all and their meaning is clear. While we have many months to wait for the buds of spring and summer to reappear, we have our own sign of the times at this point in the calendar.
After Thanksgiving, the Christmas season hits full swing. The boundaries of seasonal decorum that hold off Christmas lights, songs, and advertisements until after Thanksgiving seem to grow weaker and weaker each year. We are likely already inundated with Christmas messages before carving the turkey.
So how are we to interpret these signs, like the tree buds in today’s gospel? It’s easy to fall into the consumerism of the Christmas season. It’s natural to focus on decorations, gifts, and the family Christmas card. But the true meaning of the season is in today’s reading: “the Kingdom of God is near.”
Luckily, we have the season of Advent to guide us in our faith. In just a few days, this season will lead us to the savior who has come and will come again. He is the Kingdom of God, and he draws near.
Prayer
Lord, help us to recognize your presence in a church or chapel, even a private room, where we can sit or kneel and quietly reflect on your goodness and mercy toward us. Help us to know the richness of prayer offered from the heart. Grant us courage in the face of difficulties, faith in the presence of doubt and uncertainty, and confidence in your strengthening grace. Let us not miss these gifts by indifference and merely routine words. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Despite the city attached to his name, St. Virgil of Salzburg was actually from Ireland—he was a pilgrim on his way to the Holy Land who stopped in Salzburg on his journey and stayed as its bishop.
As abbot of a monastery in Ireland in the eighth century, Virgil was one of the most learned men in Europe (he even gained the sobriquet the “The Geometer” for his knowledge of geometry). Virgil decided to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and he and his fellow companions sailed to France. Virgil spent two years wandering and traveling throughout Europe but did not get any farther east than Bavaria.
During a stay in Salzburg, Virgil was appointed abbot of a monastery, a role that included administrative duties for the bishop of that diocese. He performed these duties admirably and found himself compelled to accept an appointment as bishop of Salzburg.
Virgil ran into trouble with St. Boniface, who disagreed with some of his decisions and teachings and complained to the pope. These inter-saint disagreements came to nothing, however, and Virgil continued on his tenure as a fantastically effective bishop without further disruption from saint or sinner. Virgil rebuilt the cathedral in Salzburg to become an even larger and grander building than it had been originally and sent missionaries to evangelize the surrounding regions.
Virgil himself traveled to preach the Gospel to new people, as far as Hungary and is known as the Apostle to the Slovenians. When he returned from one such journey, Virgil, unfortunately, fell ill and died on this date, November 27, in 784. Virgil was renowned for his great knowledge and his holiness, and his feast is celebrated both in Ireland and throughout central Europe.
St. Virgil of Salzburg, Irish abbot who left for a Holy Land pilgrimage and found yourself bishop of Salzburg—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Virgil of Salzburg is available for use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Modified from the original. Last accessed October 18, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons.
