Daily Gospel Reflection
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June 30, 2023
When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said,
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
“I will do it. Be made clean.”
His leprosy was cleansed immediately.
Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one,
but go show yourself to the priest,
and offer the gift that Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
Two years after graduating from Notre Dame, I was paralyzed by a rare (still relatively unknown) medical anomaly called “Surfer’s Myelopathy.”
Using my faith as my backbone, I recalled the stories of the lepers, the lame, the blind, and even the dead asking for Jesus’ intervention. I distinctly remember lying in bed, unable to wiggle my toes or feel my legs, circling Christmas and Easter on a calendar. “For sure, I would miraculously wake up and walk out of bed due to my strong prayer and faith, if not on Christmas, then surely Easter due to the symbolism of the Resurrection and new life.”
Those days came and went. Nearly 6,000 days have come and gone as I remain confined to a wheelchair. How did the leper in today’s gospel and all the stories in the Bible culminate in healing, seemingly easily?! At times, this question has caused me to question the integrity of my faith, the structure of my prayers, and my commitment to reconciliation for my sins.
But I think there is a deeper answer. Although I have not been granted my wish, I have come to the point where I no longer see my life as lacking or “less than” due to the physical challenges, but more whole, more colorful, and more beautiful given my new experiences.
We all have crosses to bear in our lives—some visible, some invisible, some heavy, some light. In our healing journey, we all must be kind to ourselves and each other. We are all on a journey, looking for answers.
Today’s leper was healed—that is amazing. Did that fundamentally change his soul, kindness or unkindness to others? I am not healed from my paralysis, but does that radically change my soul, my kindness or unkindness to others?
My challenge: Do not let your circumstances define you or be an excuse not to live a holy life. Our ability to choose kindness, love, and resilience is not confined to the crosses we bear, but is an intentional decision, with Christ’s help, we can always make.
Prayer
Lord, give us the love and the generosity to reach out to serve our brothers and sisters in need, so in loving and serving them, we may love and serve you, and thus one day hear you welcome us into your eternal kingdom. Amen.
Saint of the Day

Emma was St. Emma, also known as Emma of Lesum or Emma of Stiepel, and the city she lived in is now called Bremen.
Born in the early eleventh century, Emma was a Saxon princess, descended from the Saxon King Widuking who fought against Charlemagne.
Emma was married off to a wealthy Saxon count. But, soon after their marriage, her husband journeyed to Russia and died. Emma returned to her father's house. Emma had been a headstrong young woman and wife. After her husband's death, however, she developed a new contemplative spirit and devoted herself to good works.
Emma used her family's good standing and wealth to care for the Church, particularly the poor. Her fortune helped construct the Bremen Cathedral, and, more importantly, was used to give life to many of the peasants and destitute in her city.
Legend has it that, after she died, her entire body turned to dust, except for her right hand, which she had used to bestow charity upon the poor. The relic of her hand became an object of much medieval devotion, as Emma lived the truth that those who care for God's chosen—the poor—will receive treasure in heaven.
St. Emma, noble Christian who cared for the poor with your great wealth—pray for us!
Image credit: Catholic.org.