Scripture
Matthew 8: 1-4
When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Ignatian Reflection
Finding Community
At this point in Mathew’s Gospel, Jesus is on a real streak of teaching and healing people.
What’s interesting to me is that Jesus heals the leper and instructs him to tell no one, as he has done before. But this time there’s something new; he tells the man to go and show himself to the priest and make an offering and let that be proof.
Jesus’ miracles were getting a little hard to hide, and being cured of leprosy was a huge deal, but I can’t help but see the miracle of the next chapter of the leper’s life.
The leper was excluded from life due to his illness and fear in his world. Alone and shunned, he had no one to connect to. We can all imagine how relieved and happy he was to go to the priest and join the faithful—a connection to the living world. He must have been scared and elated and hopeful all at once!
I think about the homecoming of sorts that Jesus wanted for him after such a trying life.
These days we know that isolation is a killer and that finding community can save you, sometime miraculously.
How are we isolating ourselves and how is Jesus inviting us into community?
How do we use busy days, being tired, being irritated, being uncomfortable, and just plain old disinterest, as an excuse to not connect with our community?
For people who were raised in, or isolated by, the pandemic, a skill set was lost on how to just spend time with people and experience community, to be a part of something larger than ourselves. Is there a new space or opportunity that you want to try out, or maybe just test the waters so you are not alone?
For people who have children out of the house and newfound time on their hands, is the world offering you new ways to connect, and are you saying yes? Is there a volunteer opportunity that will give you a new community and lift someone else along the way?
For people who have everything figured out and are super organized and fulfilled, is this your opportunity to reach out your hand to one of those people you know who is isolated or excluded and invite them into your community?
I believe that Jesus is acting in all of us to be that stretched-out hand to help heal and build community.
—Nora Dabrowski is a regional advancement director for the Midwest Jesuits working in the Detroit and Cleveland areas.
Ignatian Prayer
Jun 26, 2026
Prayer
Embracing Father,
You grace each of us with equal measure in your love.
Let us learn to love our neighbors more deeply,
so that we can create
peaceful and just communities.
Inspire us to use our creative energies
to build the structures we need
to overcome the obstacles
of intolerance and indifference.
May Jesus provide us the example needed
and send the Spirit to warm our hearts for the journey.
Amen
—Prayer for Community, from usccb.org
The Daily Examen is a prayer technique developed by St. Ignatius to help us reflect on the events of the day to discern God's presence and direction. When Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, he required the Jesuits to practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It's a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.
The Examen structure presented below is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. Click here for more information from our partners in ministry at Loyola Press.
Daily Examen
1. Become aware of God's presence
God, I believe that at this moment I am in your presence and you are loving me.
2. Review the day with gratitude
God, you know my needs better than I know them. Give me your light and your help to see how you have been with me, both yesterday and today.
3. Pay attention to your emotions
God, help me to be grateful for the moments when people have affirmed me and challenged me. Help me to see how I have responded, and whether I have been kind to others and open to growth.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it
God, forgive me for when I have not done my best or have failed to treat others well. Encourage me, guide me, and continue to bless me.
5. Look toward tomorrow
As I look to the remainder of this day, make me aware that you are with me. Show me how to be the person you want me to be.
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