Daily Gospel Reflection for July 11, 2023

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

Reflection by Kerri Baunach

Today's Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

We live in a very troubled world. Not only is there sickness and disease, but also many feeling depressed, lonely, and abandoned, as well as an increase in mental illness. After curing a man possessed by a demon and many of the diseases and illnesses of the people, Jesus sees the “troubled and abandoned” and “his heart was moved with pity for them.” But He doesn’t cure them of their troubles and loneliness.

Could He have cured them? I suppose He could, but I wonder what good it would do. Instead, He points out to His disciples the need for laborers, for priests, to continue His ministry on earth.

The vast majority of the people on earth are the sheep in need of a shepherd or the abundant harvest in need of laborers to tend to us. As Catholic mothers, I believe we have a special call to raise sons to be good, holy, strong Catholic men, and we have a responsibility to pray that God calls some of these holy men into the priesthood. These holy priests are the laborers who will minister to the troubled and abandoned.

We do need more priests, but at the same time we cannot forget our own priestly responsibilities as baptized members of Christ’s body. We are each baptized priest, prophet, and king to minister to those around us. We need to be Christ’s witnesses and ministers to our children and spouses, our extended family members, our friends, and those we encounter on a daily basis. We should also be supporting our priests in their work. Pray for your priests, pray for your bishop, and encourage your children to do the same.

Ponder:

What can you do today to help someone in your life who is troubled or feeling abandoned?

Pray:

Good and gracious God, give our priests strength to do the work You have called them to, and may the men You are calling hear and recognize Your call to be Your holy priests.

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As Catholic mothers, I believe we have a special call to raise sons to be good, holy, strong Catholic men, and we have a responsibility to pray that God calls some of these holy men into the priesthood. #DailyGospel

Copyright 2023 Kerri Baunach

Kerri Baunach lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and three boys. She’s a Benedictine Oblate with the Archabbey of St. Meinrad in Indiana, attends the Traditional Latin Mass, and has written on her own, now abandoned, blog, for Catholic Sistas, and many Gospel Reflections for Catholic Mom.