--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for July 21, 2026 description: Explore the profound message of being God's adopted children and the love that binds us as a family in this reflective Gospel meditation. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/July%2021.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/) - Stories - [Faith](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/faith) - [Parenting](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/parenting) - [Home](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/home) - [Marriage](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/marriage) - [Work](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/work) - [Friendship](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/friendship) - [Books](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) - [Media](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/media) - [Explore all stories](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles) - [Podcast](https://www.catholicmom.com/catholic-momcast) - [Daily Prayers](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel) - [Sunday Gospel Activities](https://www.catholicmom.com/sunday-mass-activities) - [Resources](https://www.catholicmom.com/resources) - [COMUNIDAD](https://www.catholicmom.com/comunidad) [![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-07212026#) [DAILY GOSPEL REFLECTIONS](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/tag/daily-gospel-reflections) # Daily Gospel Reflection for July 21, 2026 Jul 21, 2026 12:15:00 AM  |  by [Kelly Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/kelly-guest) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/July%2021.png) *Explore the profound message of being God's adopted children and the love that binds us as a family in this reflective Gospel meditation.* --- ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 12:46-50](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072126.cfm)*** Joey always knew he was adopted. But some realization hit him in fifth grade that made him ask his mother, “Am I just as much your son as Jake is?” His mother sat him down, opened her Bible, and read to him this passage from Matthew’s Gospel. She explained that DNA is not what makes us part of Jesus’s family. Love does. God loves us so much, he chose us to be a part of His family. In the same way, Joey’s parents loved him so much that they chose him to be a part of their family. What a special feeling it is to be chosen! God has chosen us to be his adopted children. When Jesus told us to call God our Father, he meant it. We are a part of His family just as Mary is. Jesus isn’t demoting Mary; He is promoting us. By the way, after Jesus assured His followers of God’s familial love, I am sure He went to see what His mother wanted. Any good son would. Let us do the same.  Ask Our Lady what she wants of you, for she only wants what God wants. Just as she was there for Jesus, our Heavenly Mother will be with us every step of the way as we try our best to do the will of the Father. Rejoice in being an adopted child of God and a spiritual child of Mary.   ## Ponder: What is one concrete way I can show that I am a child of God?   ## Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I love being able to call You my father and Mary my mother. Thank You for adopting me into Your family, unworthy as I am. Help me to do Your will.   ## Pray Together: List ways families show their love for one another. Then list ways God Our Father shows His love for us.   ![July 21](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/July%2021.png?width=1024&height=512&name=July%2021.png) --- Copyright 2026 Kelly Guest   ### 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-07212026%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-07212026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-07212026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20July%2021%2C%202026) [![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-07212026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-07212026%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Kelly Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Kelly%20Guest%2008%202021.jpg) ### [Kelly Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/kelly-guest) Kelly Guest is the author of Saintly Moms: 25 Stories of Holiness. For over 30 years, she has worked in various ministries in the Church, beginning with her five years as a Dominican sister. She is now the Director of Family Faith Formation at her parish. She lives with her husband Paul and their nine wonderful children in the rolling country hills of Maryland. [**](https://www.twitter.com/nun2nine) ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for May 16, 2026 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-05162026) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for November 25, 2021 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/daily-gospel-reflection-for-november-25-2021) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for January 26, 2022 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-01262022) ## 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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