Daily Gospel Reflection for August 28, 2024

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

Today's Gospel: Matthew 23:27-32

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is very clear about how He feels about the Pharisees and their hypocrisy. Not only are they hurting themselves, but they are hurting others as well. They are teaching the opposite of what it means to worship and love God.

Sadly, people I know have left the faith because of the hypocrisy they think they see among people who identify as Catholic Christians. They don’t want to be Sunday-only Christians, people who live their lives not as God intended but then receive our Lord and Savior on Sundays.

It is true that many people do leave the faith due to what they think is hypocrisy. Unfortunately, this is not something new. I remember my mom telling me that my grandmother would sometimes send her to Mass with relatives because she was very upset about the mistreatment of someone she knew and didn’t want to see them at Mass. My mom even told me that my grandfather didn’t go because he would say, "Why go when most of the people there are hypocrites?"

This Gospel is a huge reminder to us that we need to be Catholic Christians not only on Sunday but every day. We should go out and spread the light of the Gospel by living it, not only preaching it. That doesn’t mean that we are perfect or must do big things to be noticed; we can make a difference by doing little things. Things like smiling at that coworker who may say things that get under your skin. Or letting someone with fewer groceries get in front of you at the grocery store, even if the line is long. These are things I sometimes try to do. I think Jesus is happy with such small efforts.

Ponder:

How will you spread the light of the Gospel this week?

Pray:

Mother Mary, help us to be more like you and get closer to your son, Jesus.

Copyright 2024 Elizabeth Estrada