Daily Gospel Reflection for July 13, 2024

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

Today's Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Two phrases cause me to pause in today’s Gospel:

“It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher." Matthew 10:25

“So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:41

"Enough." How often do we think enough is not quite enough? We can do more, better, try harder, say more prayers, serve only organic, fresh food cooked by our own hands to our family, make our own clothes, never overdo it on screen time, and spin flax into gold. Then, maybe then, we will be enough.

What Jesus wants for us is to be like Him. Oh, you’d rather spin flax into gold? When you look at Jesus and think, okay, I want to be like Him, what comes to mind for you? For me, what comes to mind is His love, compassion, radical obedience to the Father, prayer, solitude, community, healing, and service. That is the disciple I want to become, so then, when the Father calls me to something that my humanity says is not possible, I can go to the other verse that struck me, “Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

In life, we are often asked to serve one another in a way that seems insurmountable. And if we rely on our own organized, competent selves without first turning toward God, we may not serve well or have the best outcome, for ourselves or the other person or situation.

Become like our teacher, become like Jesus. He knows who He is, the Son of the Father. Know who you are, a child of the Father. If we become like Jesus, in knowing who we are, then we will not need to be afraid. We will be able to embrace enough, doing what God asks of us.

Ponder:

What comes to mind when you think of the person of Jesus? Which qualities do you want to emulate?

Pray:

God, You have given me enough of everything I need. Help me to become more like You as I live each day as Your beloved child.

Copyright 2024 Deanna Bartalini