--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for July 8, 2023 description: Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Daily%20Gospel%202.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-07082023#) [DAILY GOSPEL REFLECTIONS](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/tag/daily-gospel-reflections) # Daily Gospel Reflection for July 8, 2023 Jul 8, 2023 12:30:00 AM  |  by [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/gospel) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Daily%20Gospel%202.png) *Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.* --- Reflection by Caitlan Rangel ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 9:14-17](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070823.cfm)*** I struggled with disordered eating for years, so fasting is something I’ve had to approach with much reverence and tenderness. Even when I came to a point of greater health and wholeness—a healing due in great part to motherhood—I feared that fasting would be the entry to a rabbit hole of past pain and disorder. As I have created habits that allow me and my family to approach food in a healthy and holy way, I have learned to incorporate fasting back into my life. So, how do we fast in a way that brings us closer to the bridegroom? First, our family practices abstaining from meat and/or other special food or drink on Fridays. We talk about how on Friday we focus on how Jesus sacrificed his life for us. We in turn make a sacrifice of our comfort and immediate desires because we love Him. A second way we fast as a family is by keeping our focus on simplicity. For example, we may want take-out (and some days we do order in!), but if there is a way to bring together a simple soup, make eggs, eat leftovers, or even pop a frozen pizza in the oven, we try to take that option. A final way we incorporate fasting into our family life is by recalling many people who do not have sufficient food—fasting becomes an opportunity for solidarity. I may want an extra snack after dinner—and sometimes it’s necessary, if I’m pregnant, for example—but if I delay for just 30 minutes and instead offer a prayer for those who have not, I am often satisfied with going without extras. When viewed through this lens, fasting becomes an opportunity for formation in holiness instead of an occasion for disorder.   #### Ponder:   What role does fasting play in my spiritual life? Do I use it as a means of control or an opportunity for surrender, simplicity, and solidarity?   #### Pray: Jesus, You are our love. Give us the grace to practice fasting in such a way that it brings us closer to Your heart and the ones You love.   --- > [Click to tweet:](https://ctt.ac/590_S) > [Even when I came to a point of greater health and wholeness—a healing due in great part to motherhood—I feared that fasting would be the entry to a rabbit hole of past pain and disorder. #DailyGospel](https://ctt.ac/590_S) ![Daily Gospel 2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Daily%20Gospel%202.png?width=2135&name=Daily%20Gospel%202.png)   --- Copyright 2023 Caitlan Rangel Caitlan Rangel is a wife and homeschooling mama of four. After years of struggling with disordered eating, motherhood has been one of God’s greatest instruments of healing. Caitlan creates habits to raise a family with a healthy and holy approach to food. Read her [Rest & Rise newsletter](https://caitlanrangel.substack.com/) to receive bites of nourishment for parenting, restoring health, and living with God. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-07082023%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-07082023%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-07082023%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20July%208%2C%202023) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-07082023%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-07082023%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/CM%20DGR%20Gospel%20Team%20profile.png) ### [Gospel Reflections Team](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/gospel) Our Gospel Reflections Team is comprised of more than 100 volunteers. We invite you to join us daily to reflect upon the Liturgy of the Word and thank our volunteers for sharing their gifts. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for June 14, 2020 - Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/daily-gospel-reflection-for-june-14-2020-solemnity-of-the-body-and-blood-of-christ) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for June 17, 2020 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/daily-gospel-reflection-for-june-17-2020) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for June 16, 2020 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-daily-template-4) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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