Daily Gospel Reflection for November 5, 2019

Reflection by Gretchen Matthews Today's Gospel: Luke 14:15-24 Every day, our to-do lists are long. If you’re like me, you have many responsibilities. You might have a family who needs to be fed and loved, a job that demands focus and time, a home requiring maintenance, and animals who would adore some attention as well. From the very moment our feet hit the floor in the morning, we are asking ourselves, “What’s next?” We think every little thing is so very, very important. But today’s Gospel shows us that we do a poor job of prioritizing our activities. When given the choice to spend time with the Lord, we often excuse ourselves to take care of concerns that are -- by comparison -- trivial. And the result? We hurt the Lord’s heart. This parable tell us plainly that when we are invited to be with our Lord and fail to come to Him, we miss out on the goodness that He has prepared just for us. Jesus tells us in John 10:10, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” The “they” He refers to is us. You! Me! By inviting us closer to Him, He encourages us to learn the peace that only He can give, so that all the worries and concerns of our lives will be seen for what they are -- tolerable, and truly manageable, when carried with His eternal love. Only time with the Lord helps us see our lives in proper perspective.

Ponder:

Do I have a daily prayer routine? If not, what are my excuses? Where can I set aside 5 minutes every day to talk with Jesus?

Pray:

Lord, I can do nothing without You. When I hear Your whisper, “Come to me,” help me to obey Your call on my heart.

Copyright 2019 Gretchen Matthews Gretchen Matthews and her husband Chris have been married 21 years and have 3 children. She encourages others to see grace in own their lives at her blog, Like the Dewfall. Receive CatholicMom.com newsletters in your inbox, including the Daily Gospel Reflection each morning! * indicates required