Daily Gospel Reflection for November 11, 2024

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

Reflection by Colleen O'Dowd

Today's Gospel: Luke 17:1-6

Millstones and brothers and forgiveness and mustard seeds and mulberry trees.

There’s kind of a lot going on here, yet it's just six verses.

I like to think Jesus tries to speak in a language we understand. Busyness. Distraction. Too many things. We say we want balance and peace, but we also wonder what’s the most important thing.

And curiously, I find that our saint for today, Martin of Tours, has the answer: Single-heartedness.

Martin was a soldier, unbaptized, nonbelieving – but he was able to see Jesus in a beggar by the side of the road. He didn’t think twice before coming to his aid. Legend tells us he used his sword to cut his cloak in half to cover the man.

The center of today’s Gospel – and also, seemingly, the heart and mind of Martin of Tours -- is mercy. Long-term mercy. Forever mercy. And Jesus knows we will need supernatural faith to attempt this. That’s why He comes. To give us that supernatural grace and virtue in Baptism. Which can only happen through His suffering, poverty, and sacrifice on the cross.

Be single-minded. Be single-hearted. If the most important thing is mercy, all the other things will fall into place.

Ponder:

What's one small thing can I do at home to make myself/my children/my spouse more single-minded for mercy?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, cover me and my family with the half of the cloak given you by Martin of Tours. Help me to know better the great love and mercy You have for me. You are single-mindedly in love with me. Help me be single-mindedly in love with You.

Copyright 2024 Colleen O'Dowd

Colleen O’Dowd is a parish missionary at Our Lady of Ransom in Niles, IL. She loves being Catholic; her Converse All Stars, Crocs and socks are always liturgically correct; and she is a super-saint-geek! She blogs ultra-occasionally at www.ourheartswereburningwithin.wordpress.com and can also be found @catholiccolleen on Twitter and Instagram.