Daily Gospel Reflection for August 4, 2023

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

Reflection by Holly Novotny

Today's Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58

Some years ago I went to visit my grandmother out of state after I learned she’d had a stroke. She was in a rehab facility and only one of her children lived close enough to visit regularly, so she was alone most of the time. When I arrived, I found her condition quite different than I’d expected, and it was clear there was a lot of confusion about her recovery. I immediately sought information and helped my family understand their mother’s condition and encouraged them to shift gears to make plans appropriate for her needs. The question they asked was, “But what made you go to her?”

It’s interesting - and unsettling - when the people who know you the longest do not necessarily know you best, and this is what Jesus encountered when he returned to Nazareth. They knew His history and His family details but missed the truth of Who He really was. Because of their unwillingness to believe even that He was a prophet, Jesus did not work mighty deeds there. This experience gives us a new perspective in our own lives, not only when others do not see us as we really are, but as a reminder to see others beyond their history that we know. When we respond to the grace poured out upon us by the Lord, we grow and He gives us the courage to go out to others to share His healing and mercy.

In the car on the drive home, my teen daughter said, “They don’t understand why you came because they think faith only dictates where you go to church on Sundays.” May we all have the grace to live our faith in each moment, that we recognize Christ’s work in others and in ourselves.

Ponder:

How can I see others beyond the history I know, to really know them and see Jesus alive in them?

Pray:

Jesus, give me the grace to see others as You see them, and when I am misunderstood, help me to seek only your understanding.

Click to tweet:
May we all have the grace to live our faith in each moment, that we recognize Christ’s work in others and in ourselves. #DailyGospel

Copyright 2023 Holly Novotny

Holly Novotny is a wife and mother of two young adult daughters. The Lord’s mercy and grace continue to transform her, much to her astonishment and joy. She is a Lifetime Marian Servant and as a graduate of the Cenacle School of Spirituality offers spiritual direction in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Podcast: numinous.fm/redeemer