Daily Gospel Reflection
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September 10, 2025
Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
“Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
“Que sera sera.” What will be will be. My grandfather repeats this mantra throughout his daily life. Following his example, I strive to live out his same abandonment to divine providence—trusting in God’s ultimate plan for us. In some cases, this quote has been used to excuse a state of complacency. This can ultimately hinder us from seeking God fully.
The Beatitudes articulate the paradox of experiencing God’s goodness. We cannot fully recognize our true joys without the inevitable struggles of life. As we strive to live and share the gospel in our lives, it can be uncomfortable to openly discuss our faith, fearing that we may be wrongly perceived as forcing our views upon others. We might be excluded, insulted, or laughed at. In the harsh realities of suffering, we may weep.
“The Paradoxical Commandments,” also known as the “Do it Anyway” poem, offers insight into how to authentically live out our faith despite adversity.
“People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
forgive them anyway.
If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable;
be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy;
be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway.”
The gospel today calls us to ask ourselves, where are we paying the cost of living authentically through Christ? Are we choosing short-term external validation over genuine, eternal affirmation from God? How can we seek authenticity amidst the struggle in both the big and small decisions of our day-to-day lives?
Prayer
Loving God, Jesus formed his message in today’s gospel around your will and your kingdom. May the poor, hungry, weeping, abused, and those suffering from hate be held in compassion today. May all believers move beyond their fears and wants to be servants of love to those you honor as your beloved. We ask this through Jesus, our Brother and 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.
St. Nicholas of Tolentino, you were the monk who inspired conversions with miracles and preaching, pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Nicholas of Tolentino is in the public domain. Last accessed April 3, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
