Daily Gospel Reflection for May 5, 2025

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

Today's Gospel: John 6:22-29

When I feel anxious or overwhelmed, one of my natural responses is to shop. I like online shopping, window shopping, perusing actual shops, and even just walking around a store. I was experiencing a particularly stressful time as a teacher during state testing one year and kept sending my husband links to items I had found at different online boutiques. His response back after three or four links was “Why are you shopping? What is it you really need?” 

I was searching for comfort from the wrong thing, much like the people Jesus is speaking to in today’s Gospel. They were seeking out the wrong thing: they wanted full bellies, not God Himself. Inherently, the desires for new things or full bellies are not bad desires, just not ones that are going to fill us up eternally. Which is truly what Jesus desires--to fill us up for our eternal life. 

I still like to shop, but I am also better able to know now what I need to do when these times of stress and anxiety overwhelm me. I know I need to dig into Scripture, pray, or even go to Adoration. These are the things that will not perish. The fashion choices of today . . . well, I wish some of them would perish (crop tops, for example, just do not work on my long torso), and next week, who knows if what I bought this week will still be considered cool? Jesus will never perish, and that is what matters. 

Ponder:

How can I seek Jesus today? 

Pray:

Jesus, thank You for loving us. Thank You for caring about our eternal lives with You. 

Copyright 2025 Karen Estep