Daily Gospel Reflection for June 18, 2025

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

Reflection by Lyn Francisco

Today's Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

I associate this Gospel reading with Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, and we receive reminders to begin our Lenten observances of praying, fasting, and almsgiving with sincerity and humility. However, the Lenten season has already come and gone, as has the Easter season and Pentecost Sunday. Can we still find a lesson from this Gospel in Ordinary Time?

I believe the answer is yes. We are still given the admonition (or should it be advice?) that we don’t show off when we are praying or almsgiving. Give to your favorite causes: feed the hungry at the soup kitchen, volunteer your time with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the food bank, or the diaper bank. Those are family-friendly activities—I know people who have done some of these activities with their children. Go to church, light a candle, and say a prayer. Within the parish, there are opportunities to give of your time, talent, and treasure. Serve with sincerity and humility. It’s a lesson that is good all year round.

Ponder:

Today’s Gospel reading discusses almsgiving, praying, and fasting, which are not just Lenten activities. How do you incorporate these in your day-to-day life?

Pray:

Gracious God, help us to remember that You love us and that we are Your children. Help us to live with sincerity and humility in all that we do.

Copyright 2025 Lyn Francisco

Lyn Francisco, an organic chemist by training and education, works with the Office of Undergraduate Education at Duke University. In her spare time, she occupies organ benches in churches around Durham, North Carolina.