Daily Gospel Reflection for November 4, 2024

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

Reflection by Lyn Francisco

Today's Gospel: Luke 14:12-14

“Do good without expecting repayment.”

This phrase came to mind immediately when I read today’s Gospel.

“Blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you." Luke 14:14a

At the very beginning of the pandemic, when the world shut down, there were people in my community wondering how they would be able to continue their prayer groups. Zoom was just coming into common usage at that time, but the basic accounts only allowed for limited amounts of people for limited time. I had access to an educational account through my work that had no time or people limits, and I offered it to my friends to continue our nine-day novenas for the dead and eventually for our daily Rosary during the month of May. I continued with this through the next couple of years, even up to the present day. Members of the community have credited me with enabling them to continue with their prayer groups and Marian traditions. I offered it freely and participated with them, never asking for anything in return.

I got married in June 2022, and most, if not all, of those invited were members of this prayer community who were brought together via Zoom. They showered my husband and me with much kindness, from the bridal shower through to the wedding and reception. They all said they were grateful to me for selflessly offering the resources I had to enable them to continue praying together as a community. It was a pleasant surprise for me—completely unexpected, but for them, it was a way to show gratitude to me for enabling them to continue praying and being together, even if only through a virtual setting.

Ponder:

“Do good without expecting payment.” What does this phrase mean to you?

Pray:

Gracious God, help us to become more giving people and use us to bless others without expecting anything in return.

Copyright 2024 Lyn Francisco

Lyn Francisco, an organic chemist by training and education, works with the Office of Undergraduate Education at Duke University. In her spare time, she occupies organ benches in churches around Durham, North Carolina.