Daily Gospel Reflection
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November 29, 2020
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”
Today’s reading offers us two images of waiting for Jesus: the servants who are put in charge while the master is away and the gatekeeper who watches for the master’s return.
These images remind me of another gospel passage that is close to my heart, the story about Martha and Mary. Martha is like the servants who are put in charge while the master is away. She works, she prepares, and she is diligent in carrying out a great number of tasks so that she will be ready to serve the master. Mary is like the gatekeeper who watches for the master’s return. She focuses all of her attention on one thing, the presence of the Lord.
Today’s gospel calls us to be prepared to welcome the Lord into our lives when he comes, just as Martha and Mary welcomed Jesus into their home. The end of this reading seems to indicate that the gatekeeper has “chosen the better part,” like Mary. It commands us to, “Watch!”
How do we keep watch when we can’t see what is coming, when we don’t even know what to look for? Perhaps it is by working as one of the servants who is put in charge while the master is away. If we work doing the will of the master, we keep the watch that he has commanded. Just like Martha, if we prepare to serve Jesus (as long as we have the right attitude), we prepare to place ourselves in his presence. In the end, Martha and Mary were both doing the right thing. Martha just needed to focus her hard work and preparations on the Lord himself.
As we begin this season of Advent, let us commit to serving one another–especially those who are in great need this holiday season– so that we might keep the watch that the master has entrusted to us.
Prayer
Almighty God, you do mighty deeds and work amazing wonders. Many things are hidden from us, yet your presence is written in the heavens, from the ends of the earth, and on our hearts. Grant us the vision to see you and follow where you are leading us. Grant us peace even when your long-term vision for us is unclear, grant us courage when you illuminate our next step, especially when it is surprising to us. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Saturninus was a popular name in the late antique Roman empire, so there are several obscure saints who all bear that name. At least two potential candidates are the saints with the name Saturninus who we honor today, and both were martyred in the first centuries of the Church. Relics of St. Saturninus rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, but it is unclear which Saturninus the relics belong to.
The legend of Saints Perpetua and Felicity tells of a priest, Saturninus, who was one of their companions and ministered to them during their time in prison, comforting them as they prepared for martyrdom and he anticipated his own. This may or may not be the same Saturninus as Saturninus of Rome.
Saturninus of Rome was a priest who ministered with Sisinius, a deacon. They were imprisoned during a period of persecution of Christians, potentially during the reign of Septimius Severus and forced into manual labor before being tortured and killed, most likely around the year 203 AD.
Saturninus of Toulouse was the first bishop of the city of Toulouse in France, and was known to have converted many with his preaching and by working miracles. One of the popular cults in the late Roman empire was the cult of Mithras. The cult of Mithras was a popular "mystery religion," which featured secret initiation rites and cultic sacrifice. A temple to Mithras had long stood at the heart of Toulouse but Saturninus’ presence and preaching offended the priests there. They seized him and told him to offer sacrifice to Mithras or face death. Saturninus chose death, saying, “I worship only one God, and I am ready to offer a sacrifice of praise.” They tied him to a bull that was to be sacrificed at the temple and then prodded the animal to run through the streets until Saturninus was dead. Saturninus was thought to have been martyred around the year 257 AD.
Churches were built over the bodies of both of these saints in their respective cities.
St. Saturninus, who showed great dedication to God, even under the threat of death—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Saturninus is in the public domain. Last accessed October 18, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons.
