Daily Gospel Reflection
Join the Notre Dame family of faith. Receive God’s Word and a unique reflection in your inbox each day.
July 1, 2021
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This man is blaspheming.”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
“Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins”–
he then said to the paralytic,
“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
How do you prove your love for someone, be it a friend, a spouse, a family member, or a stranger? There is no type of material gift you can give or words you can offer that can definitively prove your love. Such things are only symbolic of a deeper reality. Love is something far more valuable, powerful, and even fragile, so we do well to take care in how we express it. God is no exception, and ironically, the divine expression of love comes through suffering and pain.
This mystery gives us much to ponder. Why would an all-benevolent, all-loving, all-powerful God choose such a seemingly illogical method of expressing love? Jesus, the Son of God, humbles himself to the point of becoming human in order to live in complete solidarity with us. That solidarity will eventually lead to his death on the cross as he offers himself to reconcile humanity to God, to cleanse us from the stain of our sin.
The miracles Jesus performed, like his healing of the paralytic, are certainly a reflection of his divine identity, but most importantly, I think they help us understand the character of God. These miracles are a sign of divine power, so why does Jesus not use that power to save himself from the pain of the cross? He has all the power in the world, but does not use it for himself. Instead of wielding his might so that we might submit to him, he chooses the path of love so that we can choose to love him in return. Even with divine power, God chooses a character of love.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you know that at times we can feel paralyzed by our own evil thoughts or from the fear, anxiety, or shame that comes from our own sinfulness. Help us, Jesus, to rise and walk away from the sins that paralyze us. Give us the strength and courage to walk away from any evil thought or habit that we harbor this day. Help us know that you have given authority to forgive sins because you desire our healing even more than we desire it ourselves. May we always reverence you with awe and admiration for all you have done for us. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Saint Junipero Serra was canonized by Pope Francis in a Mass in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 23, 2015—the first canonization to take place on American soil. He is patron saint of vocations to Church ministry, and he played an instrumental role in building the Church on the west coast of America when that area was still mission territory.
Though some controversy has arisen around the saint because of the connection between his missionary activity and the Spanish colonization of Mexico and California, the many investigations into his life show a saintly man who was absolutely dedicated to the indigenous people he served.
Miguel Jose Serra was born in 1713 on the Spanish island of Majorca, and when he entered the Franciscan order at the age of 17, he took the name of Junipero, who was a friend of St. Francis and one of his first followers.
He was a very good student, and rose quickly in his class. After being ordained to the priesthood, he earned a doctorate in theology and taught philosophy for 12 years.
At the age of 37, he traveled to the New World to teach at a university in Mexico City. He was bitten by a snake during this journey, and suffered from a swollen leg for the rest of his life, though it did not stop him from making other trips by foot.
After teaching in Mexico City for some time, he asked to be stationed at a mission 90 miles away that reached native American Indians in the area. He spent nine years there and learned the native language, even translating a catechism. He returned to Mexico City, where he became an effective preacher, encouraging people to turn from sin. He often practiced acts of self-mortification to emphasize his desire for repentance.
At the age of 55, he was given responsibility for a number of missions in what is now the Baja peninsula and California. He worked tirelessly, converting thousands and building 21 new missions. Frequently an advocate for the indigenous people he served, he implored the Spanish authorities to adopt policies that would recognize the dignity of all, even walking over 2,000 miles to Mexico near the end of his life to champion this cause.
Junipero helped bring to California many staples of its current agriculture industry: oranges, lemons, olives, figs, grapes, and vegetables, as well as cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. This statue of Saint Junipero represents the State of California in the National Hall in the U.S. Capitol building.
Saint Junipero was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988. His feast day is celebrated on August 28 everywhere else besides the United States, where it is honored on July 1.
Saint Junipero Serra, patron saint of vocations to Church ministry and builder of the Church on the west coast—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Junipero Serra is available for use under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Last accessed March 19, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
.jpg){kind=link}