Daily Gospel Reflection for July 23, 2025

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

Today's Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9

This Scripture passage speaks to the value of stories. Jesus often taught in parables, simple stories that used people and images His audience would be familiar with to teach a more profound truth. The disciples asked Jesus why He taught in this way. He explained that the wider population hadn’t been granted the same gift of understanding that the disciples had been blessed with. Jesus needed to teach in parables so that they would comprehend His message.

We can follow Jesus’ example when we share the faith with our children. While there are exceptions, most children aren’t interested in studying a list of rules of the Catholic faith or having a philosophical discussion of the reason for Christian ethics. However, they will listen to a story. 

There are wonderful children’s Bibles for toddlers through teens that present the stories of Scripture. There are many versions of saint stories that provide heroic tales of virtue and help inspire our children to want to live for Christ. There are works of Catholic fiction that can foster conversation about topics children and teens face in their daily lives.

Jesus knew the power of a good story. We should harness that same power to share our faith with our children. 

Ponder:

Have you used stories to help teach your children the faith? If not, how could you incorporate them in your life?

Pray:

Dear Lord, please give me the wisdom to share the Catholic faith in ways that my children can understand.

Copyright 2025 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur