Daily Gospel Reflection for June 30, 2025

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

Today's Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22

Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew can be a tricky one for many. It seems to demand that we ignore our duties in this world to wander into the desert. In a way it does, but there’s far more nuance here. 

Jesus states,

“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Matthew 8:20

Here Christ warns us that the Christian life can be tireless and harrowing. It is not simply a statement about His wanderings, or a call to be nomadic, He is preparing His followers for the hardships of following Him. 

Then Christ says,

“Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.” Matthew 8:22

This seems like a harsh command, almost cruel even. It seems like Christ is commanding us to ignore our commitments including to our families and those who have passed on. This command, however, is not meant to be cruel, it is meant to be life-giving. It is a wakeup call to understand what the most important thing truly is: following Jesus.  

Christ was emphasizing that the things of this world are fleeting, but eternal life lasts forever. It is not an indictment of burying the dead or a command not to love and honor our family; it is a reminder that Christ must come first and that He is what we must ground our lives in. 

By putting Christ first, we have a stable foundation for everything else in life. As the waves of hardship come crashing through and rock our little boat, we know that we will be okay because we have Christ as our center. We are citizens of heaven and are merely passing through these troubled times. 

Ponder:

Are there things in my life that I prioritize over my relationship with Jesus? How do these things negatively affect my spiritual life?

Pray:

You are our beacon, Lord. When the hardships of life become difficult to bear, or we lose sight of You, guide us to always seek Your light.

Copyright 2025 Stephen Driscoll