--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for July 15, 2016 - St. Bonaventure description: Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/07/15/daily-gospel-reflection-july-15-2016-st-bonaventure#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for July 15, 2016 - St. Bonaventure Jul 15, 2016 5:30:28 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 gold outline](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png?width=400&height=400&name=Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400-772.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-772.png) ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 12, 1-8](http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071516.cfm) - St. Bonaventure*** Arising yet again is the classic Gospel dilemma of the strict observance of religious Torah law vs. the spirit of the law, as Jesus challenges the so-called legal "experts". Jesus made it clear that the spirit of love, compassion, and mercy for our fellow human beings trumps the religious observance. Clearly, His disciples carrying out their work with him, and allowing them to eat along the way, bore more weight than the seventh day rest rule. Jesus reminds the Pharisees that David allowed his soldiers to act similarly. The priests of the temple served the Lord on the Sabbath. Service and work for the Lord, namely showing love and mercy to His hungry followers, should be the ideal followed. In our daily lives, we will likely encounter situations where serving up some love and mercy to others runs counter to common sense, the rule, or the law. There’s always that person reminding us what our obligation is, who tries to be the “authority.” Like Jesus, we should remember that we are called to uphold the spirit of the law, the charism of his Gospel message. Should we merely pray for the hungry and homeless, offering an intention at Mass, or should we be out feeding them and finding them shelter? Should we stop going to Mass? No, but do we get so wrapped up in the rest of the day, the rest of our week, or in our religious customs and traditions that we forget we are called to more, to a life of service? Love and serve with your actions, with true love and compassion in your heart. For our God who is above the law demands it. ### Ponder: What will you do today to uphold God's call to help those in need? ### Pray: St. Bonaventure, gentle, courteous and humble servant of the Lord, pray for us. Like you finished washing the convent's dishes before accepting the appointment of Cardinal, help us to remember to live a life of true service to others, not just to the letter of the law.   *Copyright 2016 RJ Martin* RJ is a hard-working father of 4 boys and a loving husband who weaves some humor into faith, family, work and dadliness. You can find his funny Catholic Dad Blog on the interwebs at [Meant2Dad](http://www.meant2dad.net). He can also be found on [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/meant2dad)and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/meant2dad). ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F07%2F15%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-july-15-2016-st-bonaventure%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F07%2F15%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-july-15-2016-st-bonaventure%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F07%2F15%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-july-15-2016-st-bonaventure%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20July%2015%2C%202016%20-%20St.%20Bonaventure) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F07%2F15%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-july-15-2016-st-bonaventure%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F07%2F15%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-july-15-2016-st-bonaventure%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/CM%20DGR%20Gospel%20Team%20profile.png) ### [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/gospel) Our Gospel Reflections Team is comprised of more than 100 volunteers. We invite you to join us daily to reflect upon the Liturgy of the Word and thank our volunteers for sharing their gifts. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for February 13, 2016 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/02/13/daily-gospel-reflection-for-february-13-2016) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for March 4, 2016 - Day of Abstinence Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/03/04/daily-gospel-reflection-for-march-4-2016-day-of-abstinence) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for January 29, 2016 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/01/29/daily-gospel-reflection-for-january-29-2016) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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