Daily Gospel Reflection for August 4, 2022

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

Today's Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23

This Gospel is very rich and has so many good messages about our Church, ourselves, and the world. The last line of this Gospel stood out for me:

He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Perhaps it’s because I have been praying much about my attachment to the world and also my prayer life. It’s interesting but I think that there is a connection between both. The more attached I become to things of the world the more my time with Jesus is affected in one way or another. Sometimes my brain knows this, but it still happens. Many times on Sunday, I will have a vision of how much time in prayer I want to have during the week and what spiritual reading I am going to do, and somehow it doesn’t quite turn out to be what I planned.

Especially in the evenings when my son and I get home, I will be too tired to read even 15 minutes and then I will fall asleep as I am praying. The question is, when I was “relaxing” playing a puzzle game on my phone or watching an episode of a cooking show, why didn’t I pray or read then?

As I am writing this, I know it’s because of attachment to the world and the things it offers. Yes, there needs to be balance, but why am I drawn to turn on the television or play a game instead of relaxing with Jesus? The conclusion is that I am human and can be selfish. I say I love Jesus and I talk to him and do all of these things, but is He really my number one?

This week I am going to really think on that question when I decide how I am going to relax after work.

Ponder:

Is Jesus your number one?

Pray:

Mother Mary, help us get closer to Your son, Jesus.

Click to tweet:
I say I love Jesus and I talk to him and do all of these things, but is He really my number one? #dailygospel

Copyright 2022 Elizabeth Estrada