--- title: Daily Gospel Reflection for August 23, 2025 description: Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/DGR%20CM%20daily%202025.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-08232025#) [DAILY GOSPEL REFLECTIONS](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/tag/daily-gospel-reflections) # Daily Gospel Reflection for August 23, 2025 Aug 23, 2025 12:15:00 AM  |  by [Tami Urcia](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/tami-urcia) Receive Daily Gospel Reflections in your inbox ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/DGR%20CM%20daily%202025.png) *Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.* --- ***Today's Gospel: [Matthew 23:1-12](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082325.cfm)*** Can you remember the last time you wanted something so badly that you would do just about anything to get it? There are so many things that we want, and if we aren’t careful, our desire for them can become insatiable, or could even turn into an obsession.  But what if that obsession was for something godly? What if it was an ardent zeal for evangelization or charity or a deeper relationship with God? That is what St. Rose of Lima’s holy obsession was, to grow in a loving relationship with God through a life of solitude, suffering, and penance. Her parents wouldn’t allow her to enter the convent so she became a member of the Third Order of St. Dominic and cared for the sick, elderly, and homeless in her home until she died at the age of 31.  Her actions portray the exact opposite of what Jesus was chiding the scribes and Pharisees for in today’s Gospel. He tells the crowds “do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example,” but St. Rose’s example is a positive model to follow. “For they preach but they do not practice,” but St. Rose practiced without preaching by living a quiet life of humble service. “They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them,” but St. Rose sought to carry others’ burdens on her own shoulders. “All their works are performed to be seen,” but St. Rose performed all her works in the solitude of her home.  May we want to get closer to Jesus so badly that we would be willing to do just about anything to achieve it. May we give a good example to others in both word and deed, just like St. Rose did.    #### Ponder:   Are my words and actions closer to those of the scribes and Pharisees or those of St. Rose?    #### Pray: Lord Jesus, sometimes being coherent in what I believe and what I do is so hard. Please grant me the grace to think before I act in order to act more like You.    ![CM DGR daily sq](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CM%20DGR%20daily%20sq.jpg?width=1080&height=1080&name=CM%20DGR%20daily%20sq.jpg) --- Copyright 2025 Tami Urcia   ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-08232025%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-08232025%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-08232025%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Daily%20Gospel%20Reflection%20for%20August%2023%2C%202025) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-08232025%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Fdaily-gospel%2Fdgr-08232025%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Tami Urcia](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/TAMI%20URCIA.jpeg) ### [Tami Urcia](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/author/tami-urcia) Tami is a Western Michigander who spent early adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her bachelor’s degree in Western Kentucky. She loves finding fun ways to keep her five kiddos occupied and quiet conversation with the hubby. Tami works at Diocesan and does Spanish/English translations and guest blogs. ## Related Blog Articles [ Daily Gospel Reflection for August 2, 2021 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/daily-gospel-reflection-for-august-2-2021) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for December 2, 2021 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/daily-gospel-reflection-for-december-2-2021) [ Daily Gospel Reflection for August 29, 2022 Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/daily-gospel/dgr-08292022) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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