Daily Gospel Reflection

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October 30, 2023

Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Lk 10:10-17
Listen to the Audio Version

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
“There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.”
The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?”
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

Reflection

Patrick Perrella '90
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In today’s gospel, Jesus returns the gift of walking upright to a woman who was afflicted for 18 years and takes to task those who said it was inappropriate to cure on the Sabbath. Jesus supported this woman when other religious leaders would not.
Last July, I traveled to Spain to embark on what I considered was going to be a great long adventure on El Camino Norte (the Northern Way). This pilgrimage route goes along the rugged northern coast of Spain from the French border to Santiago de Compostela. It was long days of walking, sometimes on rough terrain, with a full backpack.

At first, each day was about my personal goal of reaching the destination and checking out the views and towns, but along the way, I encountered other pilgrims from all over the world. Soon, my journey became much more about meeting these people, listening to their stories, learning why they were doing the Camino, and enjoying their company.

There were also times when others needed assistance—directions, bandages for sore feet, and just sharing some joy when someone was having a tough day. Looking back, I received this assistance as well, and friendships blossomed.

When I reached Santiago, I realized the journey wasn’t just about me completing the hike. It was about joining a community of pilgrims. It was a humbling moment. The Camino teaches many lessons, and this was one of them: that we are all meant to walk, share, and support each other in our journeys. To really immerse ourselves in this, we must let go of our preconceived ideas and expectations.

We have to let God work in our hearts the way God wills, whether it is healing a disabled woman on the Sabbath or completely altering the expectations of a spiritual pilgrimage.

Prayer

Rev. Herbert Yost, C.S.C.

Lord Jesus, we come before you, stooped and burdened with troubles, worries, and fears. We look to you for healing, for assistance, or, at the very least, for the hope that healing and help will come. Let nothing in our hearts stand in your way. Amen.

Saint of the Day

St. Marcellus

St. Marcellus was a soldier in the Roman army who died for the belief that sovereignty belongs only to Christ. His relics are embedded in the main altar of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus.

In the late 200s, Marcellus was a centurion in the Roman army and was posted in Spain. As the empire celebrated a feast in honor of the emperor with sacrifices to the gods, Marcellus, wanting to remain pure of heart, stood in front of his legion and condemned the celebration. Though he was a centurion, he cast aside his belt (a distinguishing mark of his rank) and declared himself a soldier of Christ, the eternal king.

His fellow soldiers were dumbfounded—they did not know what to do with him. They reported him to their superiors, and he was thrown into prison.

We still have transcripts from his trial, which record Marcellus declaring, “I am a Christian, and can serve no other than Jesus Christ, Son of God.” He was sentenced to death for desertion and impiety and was beheaded on this date in 298.

St. Marcellus is patron saint of conscientious objectors to military service.

St. Marcellus, you set aside your rank and gave your life to serve only Christ the King—pray for us!