Daily Gospel Reflection for October 11, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Luke 11:15-26

Today’s Gospel has Jesus admonishing the crowds after He drives out a demon. In the scramble to make sense of this miracle, they accuse Jesus of working with Beelzebul, to which Jesus responds quite rationally, pointing out that a "kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste.” He points out to His critics that their allegation doesn’t make any sense.

However, He asserts,

“But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Jesus uses reason to bring understanding to the people. In His way, He gives the crowd more than a clue about who He is, and yet they continue to miss what is before their eyes.

It is a powerful Gospel, but on this Memorial of St. John XXIII, we have an optional Gospel, one that complements the reason in the first.

In this optional Gospel (John 21:15-17), Jesus speaks to Peter, asking him of his love. The repetition of the request results in Peter’s response, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you," followed by Christ’s exhortation, "Feed my sheep."

I find these passages complementary, one announcing the presence of the Kingdom, and the next giving us the work at hand. I am overwhelmed by the immensity of this charge and wonder how I can, in my humble circle of influence, do as He says and feed His sheep.

It isn’t that overwhelming when I think of where I am in my life and in my vocation. As a wife and mother, I tended the tiniest of sheep, my little lambs whom I instructed and tended to with love, and now see a new generation to share that Love.

Ponder:

How are you feeding His sheep today?

Pray:

O Lord, I am present to the needs around me, both physical and spiritual. Give me the strength and wisdom to serve those needs.

Copyright 2024 Maria Morera Johnson