Daily Gospel Reflection for June 21, 2018

Today's Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15 - St. Aloysius Gonzaga When I was a sophomore in highschool, I chose St. Aloysius Gonzaga as my Confirmation patron based on a small excerpt about him in a large volume of saints. All I really remembered was that he was the patron saint of youth, which captured my attention as it aligned with my future aspirations to be a teacher. When my oldest prepared for her Confirmation and selected Mary as her patron, I thought about how I wished I had chosen someone like Mary or St. Teresa of Ávila or St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Then, a year ago as I was reading Silas Henderson’s Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J.: With an Undivided Heart I could see how St. Aloysius was a perfect saint that could resonate with me in a deeper way in a new phase of my life. His devotion to the Eucharist and Mary, as well as his self-discipline, patience, prayer and obedience spoke to my heart. He inspired me to reflect on areas where I could grow in self-discipline and patiently wait for God to reveal his plans for me over time. Today’s Gospel being Jesus teaching us to pray the Our Father is a perfect fit for St. Aloysius's feast day. Like Jesus, St. Aloysius was obedient to his father’s will even when it led to suffering. He forgave his father again and again and persistently strove for holiness. He sought more than anything what is above, and to do God’s will, rather than to embrace the comfortable life of status that his father desired so much for him. He turned to Jesus in the Eucharist and Mother Mary to strengthen him through all his trials. He lived the Our Father throughout his days.

Ponder:

Who is your Confirmation patron, and how does he or she resonate with you today?

Pray:

Loving Lord, thank you for the witness of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. Help me to remember him and revisit his life over time to consider implications for my own journey towards holiness.