Daily Gospel Reflection for July 14, 2015

Today's Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin

Today’s Gospel provides us with a reality check. All of those “woe to you” statements really pack a punch. What is Jesus trying to say here? He is angry that those towns that saw the most of His ministry weren’t repenting. He tells them that the towns they look down on would repent even if they saw much less. That would have been hard for these “faithful” towns to hear. Jesus is showing us that the more we are given, the more is expected from us. I always think of this in terms of my own forgiveness. Jesus has forgiven me for so much in my life. Yet, I often withhold my forgiveness from others who have done much less to me. Jesus reminds me of all He has done for me through this Gospel. I feel like he’s asking me if I am going to pay it forward. The answer to that is clear. Jesus expects me to extend what He has given me to others. If I don’t, woe to me.

Ponder:

Do I acknowledge all God has done for me?

Do I pay it forward in the lives of others?

Do I forgive others like Jesus has forgiven me?

Pray:

Lord, make me aware of all You have done for me. Allow me to extend what You have done in my life to the lives of others. Teach me to forgive readily and completely, the way You do. Amen.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Ellen Toole