Daily Gospel Reflection for August 13, 2026

Explore the importance of forgiveness in our daily lives and how embracing a childlike spirit can lead to healing and unity within families and communities.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 18:21-19:1

We've all seen this play out: children fighting fiercely one moment, then giggling together the next. As an educator, I’ve watched this phenomenon play out countless times. Classmates gang up on each other over a misunderstanding, demanding I step in, but when instructed to work it out, they actually do! By recess, they’re running and playing as if nothing ever happened.

Yet as we grow older, we seem to lose that inherent, childlike ability to forgive and forget.

God himself established the rules, and so far, it appears only the children have obeyed. He unequivocally states that to receive His mercy, we must forgive our brothers "seven times seven." In other words, we must forgive constantly, regardless of the offense.

This is certainly easier said than done.

In the current climate, especially within the world of social media, society seems determined to keep us divided. We are encouraged to foster hate, to remain foes, and to stop speaking to one another—a dynamic many are all too willing to accept.

Do your children watch you text furiously in response to something you don’t like? Do they hear you angrily attribute negative characteristics to an entire group of people based on their viewpoints? If so, we are failing to abide by the forgive-and-forget rule. We are not acting as children of God—children who simply let the silly hurts go and move on.

Many families today refuse to speak to one another over hurts, whether real or imagined. But Catholic families can and should be the exception. We are called to be the light, the very face of God. We must embrace being childlike and release the hurts. In doing so, we will lead the way.

Ponder:

Is it easy or hard for you to let go of hurts caused by other people, either loved ones or strangers?

Pray:

Lord, give me the strength and the courage to truly let go of past hurts. I offer them all up to You in thanksgiving for the mercy You have shown me.  

Pray Together:

Include in your daily mealtime blessing a simple line: "Father, may we forgive everyone who has hurt us in some way today." If a child wants to share his/her hurt, listen attentively and congratulate them on their act of forgiveness. 

Copyright 2026 Carol Sbordon Bannon