Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 1, 2026
When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes,
two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.
They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
The demons pleaded with him,
“If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
And he said to them, “Go then!”
They came out and entered the swine,
and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned.
The swineherds ran away,
and when they came to the town they reported everything,
including what had happened to the demoniacs.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,
and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
Reflection
Matthew wastes no time and gets right to the point in highlighting that Jesus’ power is absolute. He underscores this with the assertion that even the most savage of demons instantly recognize Jesus as the “Son of God” and know they must relent to him. It is evident that no force of pain, darkness, or despair is beyond Jesus’ influence and command. There is nothing that lies outside of Jesus’ authority and control.
If the miracle of the demons recognizing and obeying Jesus as the ultimate authority over darkness isn’t impressive enough, then equally surprising is that the townspeople, out of their fear of the unknown, beg Jesus to leave their presence!
We each have our own darkness and sins that we are not proud of, and at times, we can let them overcome us and burden our lives. Today’s gospel is a true gift to each of us and provides yet another reminder and assurance that there is nothing outside of God’s life-giving, saving power. If we just turn the reins over to God and trust in God’s power and saving grace, we can become the best version of ourselves, the version that God created each of us to be.
Let us pray that we overcome the fear of the unknown and let Jesus penetrate our hearts and conquer our deepest darkness and fears. For nothing is impossible with God!
Prayer
God, source of life, help us to live in your peace. May we be your healing presence for those who are suffering, your welcoming presence to those who are strangers. We ask this through Christ our Lord. 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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