Daily Gospel Reflection for August 25, 2025

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

Today's Gospel: Matthew 23:13-22

It's tempting to look at these verses and think, "They're not for me! I'm not a scribe or a Pharisee. I'm not a priest or a Church official. It's all good."

But these verses ARE for me. It's true that I'm not a priest or a Church official -- but if I'm being honest, I'm a hypocrite more often than I care to admit.

This passage comes on the heels of a call to humility: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12), and that makes me think about the connection of hypocrisy to pride.

It's my pride that might lead me to imply (or say outright) to my child, "Do as I say, not as I do." It's my pride that leads me to act as if I know all the answers -- even when I clearly don't and when my bad example leads someone else down the wrong path.

Here, Jesus reminds us of the damage our own pride can cause to others.

Ponder:

How can I humbly atone for the ways I have hurt others by my own bad example?

Pray:

Jesus, help me today to stop listening to the Pharisee within, and instead focus on hearing the call to walk in Your way.

Copyright 2025 Barb Szyszkiewicz