Daily Gospel Reflection for July 13, 2021

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

“If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented,” Jesus tells the unbelieving towns in today’s gospel. As Catholics, we tend to hear the word “repent” and think of the remorse we ought to feel for our sins in the confessional. We wish the world would repent of evils like abortion, and of course, that’s virtuous.

But repentance as it’s used in the gospels translates from the Greek word metanoia which means going beyond the mind that you have. As a follower of the one true faith who knows the reality of the Eucharist and the authenticity of church doctrine, I easily get caught up wishing others would repent and start seeing things the way I do. But in this life, we will never, ever be done going beyond the minds that we ourselves have.

Consequently, I should pray for repentance for myself just as fervently as I pray for it for others. As a mother, I’m called to go beyond the mind that I have to find new ways of nurturing and relating to my children. As a wife, I’m called to go beyond the mind that I have and learn how I can better love and guide my husband toward Christ. Every area of my life calls me to go deeper into the bottomless chalice of Truth, always remembering how gently and patiently Jesus beckons me onward.

Ponder:

How is Christ calling you to go beyond the mind that you have and step into the freedom that repentance offers?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, help me to open my eyes to where You're calling me to repentance today. Give me the desire, motivation and grace to change and become more like You.