Daily Gospel Reflection for July 26, 2020 - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Reflection by Michele Chronister

Today's Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52 - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

What is your treasure? I will, occasionally, go through a phase of searching for the “perfect” thing for my children – the perfect toy or book or outfit that will solve all of their problems and make mothering easy. Of course, there is no such thing, and my endless online scrolling yields nothing but an impulse purchase or two. Of course, as a wife and mother, I do need to use material things. I cannot take a vow of poverty. I need to buy toys, books, clothes, food, etc. for my family. But do those things need to be viewed as treasures or tools?

When my life is secure and calm, I expect that when the latest package from my online shopping arrives it will feel like opening a treasure. But in my moments of weakness and suffering, I realize that no material thing will ever give me the peace that I seek. It is in those moments that I find myself going to our parish’s adoration chapel – not out of habit, but out of necessity. It is in those moments that I realize that I could not live without the Eucharist.

Like a small, precious pearl, Jesus hides in a small host, in a small tabernacle, in a small chapel, in a large city. I feel the pull to seek out other treasures to soothe and satisfy my aching – but it is really only ever satisfied in the treasure of the Eucharist. Although I often get distracted by the cares of the world, these moments with Jesus remind me of what is always true – I could not live without the treasure of the Eucharist.

I expect that when the latest package from my online shopping arrives it will feel like opening a treasure. But no material thing will ever give me the peace that I seek. #dailygospel

Ponder:

Pray:

Dear Jesus, hidden in the treasure of the Eucharist, help me to seek You always. Remind me that You are always waiting for me in the tabernacle, waiting for me to find You there.

Copyright 2020 Michele Chronister

Michele Chronister is a wife, and mother to three little girls and one little one in heaven. She received her BA and MA in theology from the University of Notre Dame (’09 and ’11). She is a freelance writer, author, and is the social media manager for the Office of Natural Family Planning in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. She blogs over at My Domestic Monastery.