Daily Gospel Reflection
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September 10, 2022
Jesus said to his disciples:
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?
I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them.
That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”
I sat nervously in the doctor’s office, waiting for her to return with my results. When she finally came in to see me, the look on her face confirmed what had already begun happening—I was having a miscarriage.
While this pregnancy was initially a surprise, my husband and I had started preparing our hearts to welcome a third child. We joked about how our four-year-old and two-year-old daughters would react to a new baby and even tossed around a few ideas for names.
Now, our world had been turned upside down with the news of our loss. We struggled to cope with our grief while continuing to show up for our daughters, friends, family, and colleagues.
Today’s gospel reminds us that “a good tree does not bear rotten fruit.” I know that everything in my life comes from a good and generous God, and I trust that God will help me bear good fruit, even in the most challenging times.
I may never understand why the gift of our pregnancy was taken away so suddenly, but I think having faith entails that we aren’t meant to understand everything here and now. I find consolation in the fact that God has a plan for each one of us, even if we don’t understand it at the moment.
Amid our pain, we must rely on each other and our faith. In going to Christ during our difficulties, we can be like the man who built his home on a rock foundation, never swaying during the flood. Let us pray that God will continue to be our foundation, ever sustaining us as we follow Christ’s call.
Prayer
Lord, you are the true foundation upon which we are meant to build our lives. Give us the faith to be able to see you and your will in our lives so that we may always build on the firm foundation of your love. May the fruits of our labor reflect the love you have for us and for all your children; may they serve as small reminders of your great care and compassion. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Nicholas of Tolentino was a priest in 13th century Italy who is known for his miracles among the poor and neglected.
His parents were childless until they visited a shrine of St. Nicholas and asked for a son who would serve God. The couple received a boy and named him after the saint who had helped them conceive.
As a child, Nicholas imitated hermits and would hide in the caves near his home and pray. As he matured, he heard God calling him to dedicate his life to prayer and reflection, and when he heard an Augustinian priest preaching one day, he resolved to join that order of priests.
While in formation, he complemented his theological studies by distributing food to the poor at the monastery gate. His first miracle happened when he placed his hand on the head of a sick boy and said, “The good God will heal you.” The boy was instantly cured. A few years later he was ordained a priest, and became famous for using the same words to heal a woman who was blind.
He settled in a monastery in Tolentino, and spent the rest of his life there preaching in the streets. Though the city was torn by civil discord, he raised people’s attention to heaven. Many were moved to conversion upon hearing him.
One man, however, was not moved. He was used to a wayward, evil life, and whenever he came upon Nicholas preaching in the streets, he would try to shout him down and disrupt the crowd’s concentration. Nicholas refused to be intimidated—he was resolute and patient, and this steadfastness began to have an effect on the man’s heart.
One day, the man brought friends to fight with swords in the street near Nicholas as he preached, so as to cause people to scatter. Nicholas persisted, though, and the man put down his sword and began to listen. Afterwards, he apologized to Nicholas and began to reform his life.
Soon after this, Nicholas became a sought-after confessor and would sometimes spend the whole day hearing confessions. He also went into the slums of Tolentino to care for the poor and sick—many stories of conversions and healings were attributed to his work. “Say nothing of this,” Nicholas would say after an extraordinary event due to his intercession. “Give thanks to God, not to me. I am only an earthen vessel, a poor sinner.”
Nicholas spent the last year of his life suffering from an illness that killed him. He got up from his bed only once, to hear the confession of one who was burdened with a great sin, but refused to speak to anyone but Nicholas. He died on this date in 1305 and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Nicholas is patron saint of babies, those who work on the water, and those who are dying. His image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.
St. Nicholas of Tolentino, you were the monk who inspired conversions with miracles and preaching, pray for us!