Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 5, 2026
At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
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
“Help!” cried our six-year-old son, hanging from the monkey bars on the playground. “I’m going to fall!” His mother moved over, underneath him: “I’ve got you, just let go! I’ll catch you.” His worried voice responded, “But, if I let go, I’ll fall and get hurt.” She reassured him, “Trust me! I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall.” He let go, and his mother caught him and placed him safely on the ground.
I remember this as I write this, sitting next to the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on God Quad. This statue is sometimes called “Jump, Mama,” because it looks as if Jesus is beckoning his mother, Mary, to jump into his arms from the top of the Dome. This same statue bears the inscription “venite ad omnes,” reflected in our gospel today, “Come to me, all.” The story and the statues call to mind the trust involved in the life of faith we live.
Do we really trust Christ? Will he catch me? Will his yoke be easy, his burden light? In a world that encourages control and security, it’s hard to trust him. What if I fall?
Perhaps this is where we need to take a lesson from his Mother, who watches over our campus and our hearts. Her faith, her trust in her son, is full and total. She trusts who Jesus says he is: son of the Father, the one who knows the Father, the Lord of heaven and Earth, the one who knows the way. She trusted that even when he fell into her arms off the cross, not even death could defeat him.
I pray today we might trust the words of Christ in the gospel today, that we might let go of what we’re holding on to, whatever we’re afraid of, and to follow Mary’s lead and jump into his loving arms.
Prayer
Loving God, your Son holds out to us his heart. It is wounded by hatred and suffering, but his desire for us is not diminished. Help us to know the depth of his longing for our salvation and to grow in imitation of his love. We make this prayer in his name, for he is Lord forever and ever. Amen.
Saint of the Day
When she was born and baptized in 1271, Elizabeth of Portugal was named after her great-aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and she grew up to emulate her aunt in holiness.
As a child, Elizabeth tried to imitate the virtues she saw in other people. She was known for her prayerfulness, obedience, and service to others.
As a young girl, she was married to the king of Portugal. The king did not match her piety with his own lifestyle, but allowed her whatever freedom she wanted to practice her faith. She consistently prayed at several points during her day and attended Mass every morning. She was modest in the food she ate and the clothes she wore, and dedicated her life to serving God.
She was especially known for her service to the poor. She ordered people in her kingdom to give food and shelter to anyone they found traveling or living on the road. She, herself, would seek out people living in poverty and would help them in whatever way she could. She gave dowries to poor girls and established a hospital and orphanage. She also founded a home where women could escape exploitation and begin a new life.
Her husband was a considerate and generous ruler, but his personal life was a mess—he was selfish and unfaithful, which caused great scandal. Elizabeth devoted her energy to their two children.
Elizabeth was known as the “peacemaker” because at several points in her life, she brought about reconciliation between men who were competing for power, even between her husband and her son when he had grown. She is known to have averted several wars.
When her husband got sick, she cared for him night and day and helped him die a holy death. Then she went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and spent the rest of her life living near a convent that she founded. She followed the way of St. Francis and lived with great simplicity.
Elizabeth died while traveling to visit rulers in an effort to urge reconciliation. Her relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Elizabeth of Portugal, you were the quintessential peacemaker who averted wars with your faithfulness—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Elizabeth of Portugal is in the public domain. Last accessed March 19, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
