Daily Gospel Reflection for July 6, 2024

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

I began intermittent fasting for my health in 2020. Everything was out of my control that year, so I figured I could manage this aspect of my life. After eating dinner, I would go 16-20 hours before my next meal, with only water or black coffee to drink. And it was great. I lost over 40 pounds, had more energy and focus, and felt physically better than I had in a long time. Success! At least, it was success on one level.

Fasting is a much different discipline in terms of our faith. When we fast for Lent or at other times in the liturgical year, we are meant to join our fasting with prayer. Fasting without prayer is sacrificing on our merit; fasting combined with prayer is joining our momentary suffering with Jesus.

There are many things in our daily lives that we can fast from: food, sleeping in, and social media are a few that come to mind. A priest once told me, “If it doesn’t hurt, it’s not a sacrifice.” Fasting is hard, but we are called to what makes us holy and to put away things that keep us from holiness. It is a way to make room in our lives for Jesus and what will draw us closer to Him. We are not called to an easy life but to the cross. Through fasting and prayer, we can draw the strength from the Holy Spirit to suffer well on our road to holiness.

Ponder:

What can we fast from to bring us one step closer to God? How can we incorporate prayer to help us make a good sacrifice?

Pray:

St. Maria Goretti, through your example of sacrifice and your willingness to forgive your attacker, help us draw close to Christ and to not count our suffering.

Daily Gospel 2