--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for February 23, 2020 - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time 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/daily-gospel/2020/02/23/daily-gospel-reflection-for-february-23-2020-7th-sunday-in-ordinary-time/#) # Daily Gospel Reflection for February 23, 2020 - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Feb 23, 2020 5:01:24 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/gospel-reflections-team) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox Reflection by Meggie K. Daly ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 5:38-48](http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022320.cfm) - 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time*** Jesus shares two radical teachings that stunned listeners in His time and, if we are honest, have a similar effect on us today. First, Jesus says: “But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.” Is Jesus calling us to be wimps, to let bad people walk all over us? Jesus continues: “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” Is Jesus raising the bar impossibly high? Are we to let bad people abuse us and then pray for them? In my experience, when someone hurts or rejects me, my knee-jerk reaction is to strike back by sulking or “talking stink” about them. According to Jesus, these choices are all bad choices. A second choice, just as unhealthy, is to do nothing and let the hurt fester to bitterness within us. A third option is to stay calm, remove oneself from, and pray for those who have hurt us -- this is the path Jesus calls us to take. Years back, my husband and I moved across the county to be near his parents. A simple but common snub was to extend dinner invitations to my husband only when I was out of town. I was hurt and disappointed by being methodically excluded. One night my husband suggested, “Why don’t you start praying for my parents. It will soften your heart towards them, even amidst their rejection.” I begrudgingly followed his advice. Eventually, I realized that my heart had grown more resilient and that slights from my in-laws no longer triggered resentment in me. I was able to accept them as imperfect -- just like me! ### Ponder: What resentment from a past hurt can I transform to forgiveness through prayer for the one who hurt me? ### Pray: Give me strength, Lord, to refocus feelings of rejection to sincere prayers for those who have hurt me. Tenderize my heart to help me to recognize that “hurt people - hurt others.” --- *Copyright 2020 Meggie K. Daly* Meggie K. Daly, a retired research scientist, is the author of *Bead by Bead: The Scriptural Rosary*. She is the mother of six adult children and six grandchildren. Meggie occasionally blogs at [meggieKdaly.blogspot.com](http://meggieKdaly.blogspot.com) and is working on her second book in between providing daycare for her young grandchildren. **Receive CatholicMom.com newsletters in your inbox, including the Daily Gospel Reflection each morning!** * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name * **Interests ** Daily Digest Daily Gospel Reflections Sunday Brunch Specials Catholic Mom.com Book Club   [![Gospel Reflections 800x800 gold outline](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline-400x400.png)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Gospel-Reflections-800x800-gold-outline.png) ### 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%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2020%2F02%2F23%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-february-23-2020-7th-sunday-in-ordinary-time%2F%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%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2020%2F02%2F23%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-february-23-2020-7th-sunday-in-ordinary-time%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2020%2F02%2F23%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-february-23-2020-7th-sunday-in-ordinary-time%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20February%2023%2C%202020%20-%207th%20Sunday%20in%20Ordinary%20Time) [![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%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2020%2F02%2F23%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-february-23-2020-7th-sunday-in-ordinary-time%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2F2020%2F02%2F23%2Fdaily-gospel-reflection-for-february-23-2020-7th-sunday-in-ordinary-time%2F%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/daily-gospel/author/gospel-reflections-team) 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 July 7, 2019 - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2019/07/07/daily-gospel-reflection-for-july-7-2019-14th-sunday-in-ordinary-time/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for February 7, 2020 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2020/02/07/daily-gospel-reflection-for-february-7-2020/) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for April 7, 2018 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/2018/04/07/daily-gospel-reflection-april-7-2018/) ## 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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