Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 4, 2024
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.
Today, we’re reminded not only of the power of Christ to forgive and heal but also of the profound impact of faith and communal support. This story deeply resonates with my journey of living in California, where our friends, driven by deep faith, fervently prayed for and supported my late husband, Mark, during his battle with cancer. Their unwavering belief in God’s healing illuminated our path with hope, showcasing the strength of faith and the sacrificial love that a united community embodies, echoing the gospel’s call to bear one another’s burdens.
This narrative of support transcends individual communities and teaches us that through shared belief and prayer, we can confront life’s most significant challenges, buoyed by the love and grace that flow from a community united in faith.
Now, in Indiana, I have remarried and am embracing new beginnings. I’ve been inspired by witnessing the Notre Dame community act as the hands and feet of Jesus. This vibrant collective mirrors the support Mark and I received, embodying the essence of mutual aid and encouragement in times of need. Observing their selfless acts of kindness and support renews my faith, reminding me of the power of a community to uplift and carry one another toward healing and grace.
Inspired by the gospel, this shared journey in faith reassures us that we are never alone. Surrounded by a community that reflects Christ’s love, our collective faith becomes a beacon of hope and strength for all, demonstrating the incredible power of support and love in our lives. The encouragement from this community underscores the profound impact of being united in faith, turning our shared journey into a vibrant testament to the Gospel’s enduring message of love and support.
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
Pier Giorgio Frassati was an extraordinary, Catholic young man who immersed himself in the struggle for human dignity that defined the 20th century. When he died at the age of 24, the streets were flooded with people who mourned his early death, and it was the poor people whom he served who took up the cause of his canonization.
He was born in 1901 in Turin, Italy, to a wealthy and prestigious family who owned a newspaper; his father was named Italian ambassador to Germany. Pier was an average student and an excellent athlete. His passions included mountain climbing and playing practical jokes—his many friends called him "the Terror.”
As a young man, he threw himself into social action on behalf of the Catholic faith: he served the poor, prayed, and built community. Pier gave his efforts to a number of groups who worked for justice and spread Eucharistic piety and Marian devotion. Pier would give away any spending money he had—he would even offer his fare for the train to a poor person and would walk home instead.
He started a newspaper that took seriously the principles in Pope Leo XIII’s famous encyclical about the dignity of human labor and the rights of workers, Rerum Novarum. “Charity is not enough,” he would say. “We need social reform.”
When Church leaders organized a demonstration in Rome against fascism, he helped lead the crowd. Police began to suppress the protest with violence and knocked the lead banner from someone’s hands. Pier grabbed the banner and, holding it higher, used the pole to fend off other attacks. He and other demonstrators were arrested. He could have received special treatment because of his father’s position, but he refused and stayed with his friends in jail.
One night after his release, fascist supporters broke into his family’s house and tried to attack Pier and his father, but Pier repelled them and chased them out into the street with his bare hands.
He died on this date in 1925 after contracting an illness from his efforts serving the poor and sick. When his tomb was moved to the cathedral in Turin in 1981, it was discovered that no decay had corrupted his body.
Pope St. John Paull II beatified Pier Giorgio Frassati in 1990, and called him "the Man of Eight Beatitudes." “By his example he proclaims that a life lived in Christ's Spirit, the Spirit of the Beatitudes, is ‘blessed,’ and that only the person who becomes a man or woman of the Beatitudes can succeed in communicating love and peace to others,” the pope said at his beatification Mass. “He repeats that it is really worth giving up everything to serve the Lord. He testifies that holiness is possible for everyone, and that only the revolution of charity can enkindle the hope of a better future in the hearts of people.”
Pier’s story and image are used by high school students who come to campus for a summer conference with the Notre Dame Vision program.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, you were the young man who fought fascism and poverty with your bare hands—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati is an illustration by Julie Lonneman, who holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of her art. Used with permission.