Daily Gospel Reflection
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October 16, 2024
The Lord said:
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,
“Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”
“Not feeling the love!” This is an expression I use when a colder-than-expected social moment presents itself. I was reminded of it today as I read Luke’s Gospel. I wonder if Jesus was thinking of something similar during today’s strong rebuke after he dined with the scribes and Pharisees.
Three statements from Jesus strike me. First, “You do not lift one finger to help them!” Second, “You always take the best seats!” And third, “You tithe, but you pay no attention to the love of God!” Jesus reserved some of his harshest criticism for hypocrites, and he certainly let some of that criticism fly here. Through his criticism, Jesus is reminding us, too, that far more important than any financial contribution, position, or status, love of God and love of neighbor is far greater. That’s what the scribes and Pharisees were missing. That’s the love that Jesus wasn’t feeling.
I wonder if, sometimes, members of our own congregations walk out the doors of our churches “not feeling the love.” Did they experience the true worship and praise of a congregation at Mass, or did they simply experience people going through the motions? Were they new to our church and found no one there to notice and to welcome them? Did no one shake their hand or acknowledge them at the sign of peace?
Sadly, we, too, can sometimes be the worst proponents of our own faith, often being seen by others as insincere, insecure, and hypocritical in our actions and words. Let us ask God today to reveal any inconsistencies in our lives between that which we believe and that which we practice. And let us ask God to bring us so close to Christ that there will never be a gap between the two.
Prayer
Lord, protect us from egos that seek our glory over your love of others; give us wisdom to realize that all that really matters is honoring your will. Strengthen us this day so we may sidestep the temptation of earthly applause just to appear a little more important, to the detriment of doing what is truly important. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Hedwig was a strong mother and wife, and is honored for the faith that she brought to her husband and the people that they governed.
She was born in Bavaria in 1174, and was aunt to St. Elizabeth of Hungary. As a girl, she was placed in a monastery for her education, and when she was 12, she was given to marriage to a duke named Henry. Together, they had seven children.
When her husband succeeded his father, and gained the governance of his region, Hedwig encouraged him to establish a monastery of Cistercian nuns. Together, they founded more monasteries, which helped develop the faith among their people, and also preserved and enhanced their culture. Both Henry and Hedwig founded hospitals, which they took personal interest in.
As their children matured, they gave the couple much trouble. Several bickered bitterly over land rights, even battling one another. Hedwig tried to intervene, but eventually resigned herself and moved to one of the monasteries she had founded. There, she spent her time in the prayer and manual labor of the community, and was known for her austerities that helped her sharpen her will. For example, she would often travel to nearby villages for Mass without wearing shoes, in any kind of weather.
She assisted her husband, urging peace at every opportunity. He fought several major battles, and at one point, Hedwig had to ransom him when he was captured. When Henry died, she permanently joined one of her convents that was led by her daughter, and gave away all of her possessions to the poor.
Even when she was alive, St. Hedwig was given the gift of miracles, and she healed a nun who was blind by making the sign of the cross upon her. Several other miraculous cures are attributed to her. She died on this date in 1243, and is patron saint of brides. Her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Hedwig, you are the patron saint of brides who gave away all of your possessions to the poor—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Hedwig is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed October 3, 2024.