Daily Gospel Reflection for June 19, 2024

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

I struggle with humility in praying, fasting and almsgiving. I admit when I complete my Rosary, I feel accomplished and (as if) I can check it off the list. When I fast or give up sweets for Lent, I am secretly pleased that maybe I’ll lose some weight. It even seems contradictory to “give til it hurts,” and at the same time, as today’s Gospel reminds us, “not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” I recently heard a priest express a solution for this quandary.

The priest reminded us that every single good thought or good deed we do is done only at the prodding of the Holy Spirit. We cannot take credit for even the desire to help someone, because the very desire itself is not from us. We think of nothing without God and cannot act unless God first invites us to.

God gave that moment. He initiates any thought or action we have in that moment. In this, I can learn to remove my pride from the acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This is also true in learning to accept all that we are going through.

I have been going through a season of suffering lately. At first, I asked the Lord to remove the pain I was in. He did not. I requested from God that he would change my heart to accept the situation that was causing me such pain and grief. He did not. Finally, I changed my prayer to accept the fact that God may be allowing this suffering for a reason that I do not know and may never know. I found inspiration in the words of Ven. Fulton Sheen: “Pain without Christ is suffering; pain with Christ is sacrifice.” I fell upon that quote right when I needed to see it. Even in this, God prodded and provided; all I have to do is respond.

Ponder:

How can I learn to turn each moment, sacrifice, and suffering to the Lord?

Pray:

Holy Spirit, guide each and every moment of my day. Help me to remember that everything I am called to is directed from You and by You. Let me offer my thanks back to You.

Daily Gospel 2