Daily Gospel Reflection for July 20, 2015

Today's Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42

Optional Memorial of Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr

We like signs. We look for them. We want so much to believe, but often we need to see something tangible, something visible, in order to believe.

When I first started having dry times in my prayer life, I didn’t understand what that dryness meant. Almost overnight, I stopped experiencing those “warm fuzzies” that God sometimes gives us, those spiritual highs. I felt like God had abandoned me.

My spiritual director explained to me that sometimes God holds back on those gifts to stretch our hearts a little. God was teaching me to love God for Himself.

In other words, instead of loving the gifts, we need to love the Giver of the gifts. Instead of looking for signs, we need to look for God Himself. The gifts and signs will come, but as we grow in our spiritual life, we don’t always need them.

We just need our Lord.

Ponder:

Have you ever asked God for a sign?
Do you think your faith is stronger or weaker when you don’t get a sign?

Pray:

Dear Lord, help me to grow in faith and love and hope. Help me to trust in your presence and not always look for your gifts. Rather, help me to look for You and trust in your love. 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 Colleen Spiro