Daily Gospel Reflection
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September 19, 2022
Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away.”
This summer, I went on a sunrise hike with some friends in Big Sky, Montana. It was stunning and serene but also tricky since the first half of the walk was well before dawn. We only had two headlamps, so I led with one, and a friend stayed towards the back with the other.
Occasionally, I would turn my head to the side to take in the inspiring landscape (or casually make sure that the rustling in the woods wasn’t a bear!). As soon as I did, my friends could not see the path ahead of them and would begin to stumble. They relied on me and my headlamp for their secure footing. As long as I kept looking forward with my light, they could see and walk confidently along the dark path.
Our everyday lives are not too different from this. Whether we realize it or not, others depend on the light we shine. When we are focused on God and moving forward on our own journey of holiness, we will naturally light the way for others. Really then, is evangelization as difficult as we think?
When we follow God, we inspire others to imitate us. The more radically we live our lives entirely for Christ alone, the more brightly our light will shine, and the more others will be genuinely inspired.
May we each respond to this call of our baptism and become saints, leading and inspiring those around us to do the same! In the words of St. Pope John Paul II, “Do not be afraid to be holy! Have the courage and humility to present yourselves to the world determined to be holy, since full, true freedom is born from holiness.”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in baptism you enkindled in our hearts the light of Jesus Christ, your Son. Inflame that light in our lives that it may illumine all that we see, think, and do. May our lives shine brightly with your light, that we may bring its radiance into the lives of all we encounter. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Januarius was a bishop who gave his life with his friends during a Christian persecution in the Roman empire. He is a best known for a recurring miracle that involves his relics.
Two deacons and a layman were imprisoned after confessing their Christian faith. Januarius was good friends with one of the deacons, and he visited his friend in prison. Guards noticed, and he was arrested, along with another deacon and a layperson.
Januarius and his companions were all beaten, and made to wear iron chains and march in front of the governor’s chariot. They were thrown into jail with the friends Januarius had originally visited.
The group of Christians were condemned to die by being thrown into an arena with wild beasts, but when this was carried out, the beasts could not be enticed to attack. They were sentenced to beheading instead.
This account of Januarius and his companions comes down to us from tradition, and it is difficult to know if it can be trusted. Best guesses indicate he died sometime around 305; the saint seems to have been honored from the fifth century and after.
There is a unique veneration of Januarius’ relics in Naples, where he was bishop. A vial of the saint’s dried blood stands in a reliquary in a church dedicated to him. Several times a year, on dates that correspond to events in the saint’s life and death, people observe the blood in that vial to liquefy, sometimes coming to froth and increase in volume. It is a miracle that has been examined carefully and no explanation has been found. In 2015, the blood liquified when Pope Francis made a visit, which was rare because it occurred outside of one of these special feast days.
Relics of St. Januarius rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, and his image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.
St. Januarius, you are the martyr with miraculous relics who died for your friends and your faith, pray for us!