Daily Gospel Reflection for August 5, 2022

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

Again, Jesus tries to show us what’s really important - eternal life, not physical life; eternal rewards, not earthly treasures. He tells us that there’s more to life than what we have seen and experienced with our physical senses. He wants us to look beyond the physical and the earthly to set our sights on the spiritual and the heavenly.

But it goes against our instincts, doesn’t it? Our instincts tell us to believe our eyes. To trust what we can see and touch and to doubt the things we can’t. When faced with a threat, our instincts tell us to protect ourselves and what we have to survive; to save our lives, not lose them. When we feel a need, our instincts tell us to fill it with as many material goods as we can to provide for ourselves and our families. But those things that we can see and touch often distract us from what’s really important. By focusing on this world, it makes it harder for us to look with joyful anticipation to the next. And, the next life is the one that really matters.

I often think about how poor my vision is; not just my eyesight (which has never been great) but my vision. I see the things of this life fairly clearly but my vision of the next is blurry at best. But, when I hear Jesus speak words like this in the Gospels, I feel my vision of heaven becoming more and more clear. I slowly grow in anticipation of what it means to see the Father’s glory; to be in His Kingdom and His Presence in heaven. And as my vision of heaven grows stronger, a funny thing happens - this world and my physical existence seem a lot less important.

Ponder:

How is my vision of God’s Kingdom? Do I place my focus on this life or do I look with eager anticipation to the next?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, thank You for this reminder that eternal life through You is worth more than anything I can experience in this life. Help me to improve my vision of Your kingdom so that I can detach myself from this world and set my sights on heaven, when I hope to be with You forever.