Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 1, 2025
As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
There is an old saying that, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” But that’s not the lesson Jesus imparts to his disciples in today’s gospel. There are those hardships and daily battles from which we’re made stronger. Those that make us better sailors. Other storms in our lives, however, are best understood by their transience and test our ability to recognize a bad moment as just a bad moment—not a bad life, just a moment.
This passage from Matthew reminds me of certain nights when I was much younger. When, on occasion, I would have a bad dream and was stirred awake in the middle of the night, I would almost automatically go over to my parents’ bedroom. Most of the time, I couldn’t remember what had scared me, but I was looking for someone to console my fears.
So, just like the disciples did, I took to waking my mom up to tell her that I was scared. Unlike a knee scrape, on which she could put a band-aid to make me feel better, there was nothing my mom could tangibly do to remove the source of my fear. In those moments, mom would wearily give me a hug, tell me that it was just a dream, and send me back to sleep.
Today’s gospel reminds us that, even in moments where we fail to rely on our faith, God still brings “great peace” to our lives when we go to him. It can be difficult to discern when our anxieties are irrational. However, they are anxieties nonetheless. No matter the source of our unsteadiness, Jesus reminds us that faith will always be a source of comfort. That every storm runs out of rain.
Prayer
There are times, O Lord, when daily realities frustrate us. Sometimes one thing after another happens, and we feel overwhelmed. These are the times when we most yearn for your presence and your support, yet we don’t feel it or sense it. Please, tell us what we can do! We need your help so much at those times. 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 a 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. When he entered the Franciscan order at the age of 17, he took the name Junipero, which was associated with St. Francis and one of his first followers.
He was an outstanding 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.
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