Daily Gospel Reflection
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September 28, 2019
While everyone was amazed at all that Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.”
But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Think about today’s reading–just before this passage Jesus fed 5,000 people, was transfigured before his apostles, and then healed a possessed boy in front of a large crowd. It’s right here, amid his rising fame and growing numbers, that Jesus offers this sobering statement to his apostles – he is going to be betrayed. I imagine his apostles hear his words “The Son of Man is going to…” and anticipate many victorious or joyous endings to that statement, ones that give them great comfort and excitement. They cannot understand the starkly contrasting truth that Jesus says, as “its meaning was concealed from them, so they could not perceive it.”
We may ponder why the truth was hidden from their understanding. It seems that Jesus is clearly spelling it out to them. I suspect that it is the apostles’ humanness, and truly our own, that obscures the truth. Our own ambitions, desires, hopes, and fears influence our view of life. Jesus offers his apostles the truth, but they cannot reconcile it with their own view of the Messiah.
Remember that we also are given the truth in the Word of God and in the Church. In receiving this truth, we must shed our arrogance and pride to instead listen to Jesus, the fullness of truth. At times it will be an inconvenient truth, one we would rather avoid altogether. We know this; the apostles surely came to know this. But we must choose truth over convenience since this is what Jesus did.
“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth…” C.S. Lewis.
Prayer
Lord, many of your teachings and acts of love are hidden from us. Nevertheless, we believe that with the aid of the Holy Spirit, our eyes and hearts will be open to the truth of your person and your salvific mission. Send your Spirit upon us that we may see with the eyes of children and thereby see your kingdom as it takes hold here on earth. Enkindle in our hearts a desire for you and your kingdom, and we shall be made new. Amen.
Saint of the Day
As the popular carol goes, St. Wenceslaus was, indeed, a good king, but not an English king. Wenceslaus was a ruler in an Eastern European kingdom, site of the present-day Czech Republic, and was killed by his younger brother who usurped the throne.
Wenceslaus was born in 907 near Prague into the Bohemian royal family. His grandparents were baptized Christians, and spread Christianity throughout their kingdom. Wenceslaus was raised by his grandmother, St. Ludmilla, who educated him and formed him as a Christian.
When Wenceslaus’ father died, anti-Christian forces began to develop throughout the kingdom. Knowing him to be a faithful, devoted Christian, Wenceslaus' mother suggested he enter a monastery. She also feared that upon assuming the throne, Wenceslaus would start a civil war with the pagan factions in the country. Ludmilla protested and continued to train Wenceslaus to be a Christian ruler, but she was banished from the court as Wenceslaus ascended to the throne. Wenceslaus announced that he would rule as a Christian who would abide by the law of God and the church. As an act of mercy, Wenceslaus restored his mother's place in court to her. Soon after, Ludmilla became a victim of court politics when she was strangled by two court nobles.
When Wenceslaus married and his wife bore a son, his younger brother, Boleslaus, lost his chance at succession. The discontented Boleslaus joined a group of dissidents who plotted against Wenceslaus' government.
In September of 929, Boleslaus invited Wenceslaus to celebrate the feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian. Wenceslaus was warned that his life was in danger, but he paid the warnings no heed. He toasted Michael the Archangel, said his prayers, went to bed and slept peacefully through the night. The next morning, Wenceslaus met Boleslaus and embraced him, thanking him for his hospitality. Suddenly, Boleslaus and his allies attacked Wenceslaus, cruelly assassinating him. Wenceslaus last words were, “Brother, may God forgive you.”
Almost instantly, the Bohemian people honored the popular king as a martyr. Boleslaus was worried about reports of miracles taking place at Wenceslaus' tomb and moved his body to Prague, where it eventually became a pilgrimage site. St. Wenceslaus is the patron of the Czech people, and some of his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
The English Christmas carol, “Good King Wenceslaus,” was written in the 19th century and is connected by popular devotion to this saint.
St. Wenceslaus, the good king who ruled with great faith and forgiveness—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Weceslaus is in the public domain. Last accessed April 3, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
