Daily Gospel Reflection for August 17, 2021

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Fr. Edward Looney

Today's Gospel: Matthew 19:23-30

Peter says in the gospel today, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?.” Recall how Jesus invited those first apostles to follow Him. A few He called after a day of fishing. They were mending their nets, their father was there, and Jesus says, “Follow Me.” And they do. He called St. Matthew from the tax collector post. So they did give up everything—family, career, prestige, etc. They chose to renounce it all to follow an itinerant preacher who did not have a place to lay His head. Yet the power of Jesus’ words and actions attracted them to follow Him and begin that life.

Think about some of the saints who gave up everything to follow Jesus. St. Anthony of the Desert, when he heard the story of the rich young man, gave away all of his possessions and withdrew from the world. St. Francis of Assisi became poor in imitation of Christ. St. Teresa of Calcutta left one way of life as a religious to begin a new community and follow Jesus in a new way. She gave up what was familiar in order to follow Jesus even more radically.

Why have people given up everything to follow Jesus? The answer—eternal life. Yet there are more reasons. When we follow God’s call in our life we experience peace, joy, and purpose. In our Christian life thus far, can we say with Peter today, that we have given up everything? Or are we still attached to certain worldly things? Examine your life today, and identify what you have given up, and ask the Lord what else you need to leave behind in order to follow Him wholeheartedly.

Ponder:

What have you given up to follow Jesus?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, show me the areas of my life in which I still need to detach from the world, so that I can better follow you every day.

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When we follow God’s call in our life we experience peace, joy, and purpose. #dailygospel

Copyright 2021 Fr. Edward Looney

Fr. Edward Looney is a priest of the Diocese of Green Bay, WI and the author of A Lenten Journey with Mother Mary and other best-selling books. He also hosts the podcast How They Love Mary.