Daily Gospel Reflection on Veritas Catholic Network

The Symbolism of the Feast of the Transfiguration

Today’s Gospel reading is Mark 9;2-10, it is the Feast of the Transfiguration!
Jesus is Transfigured before Peter, James and John. He is glorified by His Heavenly Father and speaks to Moses and Elijah. The disciples have this profound moment of closeness with Jesus, and these three disciples want to stay there, but Jesus brings them down the mountain.
Often times in the summer you have the chance for great spiritual growth. Just as we often want to “stay on the mountain” in the place of glory, we want to stay in the high points of the faith life. But to do so would be to ignore our mission. So, we must “go back down the mountain” and serve. 
Still, just as Jesus goes back down the mountain with Peter, James and John, when the spiritual high begins to ebb and flow, Jesus comes down the mountain with us and walks with us in the ordinary moments of life.
Praised Be Jesus Christ!
 

Mary is Theotokos, the Mother of God

Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 14:13-21. It is the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome. This basilica was built after the Council of Ephesus in the year 431, when Mary was affirmed as the Theotokos, the Mother of God.
Why build and celebrate the dedication of this Basilica? It helps remind us that Mary accompanies us by her intercession & prayer. In the Gospel today, the apostles bring to Jesus five loaves and two fish. In a certain way, they intercede just as Mary intercedes and prays for us, that we might receive the graces necessary for our lives.
When we celebrate the dedication of a Church, we also remember the universality of the Church. 
Praised Be Jesus Christ! 

Do You Seek the Bread of Life?

Today we continue in the Bread of Life discourse, reading John 6:24-35.
The people are seeking out Jesus because He has fed them. They are looking for more food. But as he does so He helps them recognize that the physical hunger they feel corresponds to the spiritual hunger they have. We seek not that which only satisfies the body, but that which satisfies the soul.
The Eucharist is more than just a passing moment. the Eucharist is the presence of Christ enduring with us in our time so that we can prepare to be with Him in eternity.
Lord, give us this bread always. Help us to always be hungry for You in the Eucharist!

Christians Are Persecuted For Telling the Truth, We Should Still Tell the Truth

Today we read from Matthew 14:1-12. Here, we hear the story of the death of St. John the Baptist.
John the Baptist is beheaded because Herod is a lost soul, and more importantly, because John told the truth.
We live in an age where Christians are mocked and even persecuted for telling the truth. We should still tell the truth.
Through the intercession of St. John the Baptist may we have the courage of our convictions, the strength to stand strong in a hostile culture, and have the perseverance to run the race.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us!
 

Jesus Doesn't Force Himself Upon Us

Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 13:54-58.
As Jesus teaches in the synagogue in his hometown the people question His Person and His authority. As such, Jesus was “unable to do many might deeds there”.
This shows that Jesus’s miracles are cooperative. What happens if we don’t ask, if we don’t believe, if we refuse His grace? Jesus will not force His goodness and miracles upon us. He doesn’t force Himself.
He waits, he gives us the chance to say yes or no.
Let us pray for patience in spreading the Gospel and for the docility to cooperate with the Lord’s grace.
 

The Kingdom of God is Open to All, But All Are Called to Conversion

Today is the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori. The Gospel reading is Matthew 13:47-53.
The Kingdom of heaven collects fish of every kind. At the end of time the good and righteous are separated from the bad. What this means is that the Kingdom of Heaven is open to all people; good, bad and ugly. The bad aren’t outrightly rejected, they are simply called to change.
The Catholic Church means “here comes everyone”, and “everyone” is called to conversion.
 

A Life Lived With Jesus Is Better Than EVERYTHING Else

Today is the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The Gospel Reading is Matthew 13:44-46. Jesus likens the Kingdom of Heaven to someone who sells everything they have for a field with a hidden treasure or one pearl of great price. Jesus is telling us that eternal life in Heaven is worth everything that we have.
St. Ignatius of Loyola is a great example of one who sells what they have for the Lord. Upon a great conversion during his recovery he finally finds the one thing that he had been seeking after all along.
Here is what we need to remember. God is the better part. A life lived with Jesus is better than a life of material goods. They will not satisfy us.
Let us pray, through the intercession of St. Ignatius of Loyola, for the grace to sell everything for the pearl of great price, life with Jesus Christ Himself.
Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Perfect Us, Oh Lord

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 13:36-43. The Apostles ask Jesus to explain to them the Parable of the sower and seed. Jesus explains that whatever evil we may have to endure, God has the final victory. God in His goodness offers us victory over sin and death.
He separates that which is evil, and so we pray, that the Lord would cast into the fire that which is evil in us, so we might be perfected in Him.
Praised Be Jesus Christ! 

Jesus's Friendship with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

Today is the feast of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. We read from the Gospel of John 11:19-27.
Jesus in his friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus wants to be with them in this moment of sadness. It is the last of His miracles of His public ministry.
In the juxtaposition between Martha and Mary we see the dispositions of the human heart. Martha, who once condemned Mary for sitting at Jesus’s feet, is the first to run to Jesus this time, where as Mary, remains at home.
This story reminds us that Jesus wants to restore us, and most of all, call out of us the confession of faith he called out of Martha.
Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Christ Desires to Feed Our Hunger

Today’s Gospel Reading is John 6:1-15. We are the beginning of the Bread of Life Discourse. Jesus teaches that He has come to feed the world, starting by literally feeding this crowd of 5,000.
His will is that we would be fed, that we would have enough to be actually satisfied. Importantly, Jesus not only wants to satisfy our physical hunger but our spiritual hunger.
Everyone has been made to seek the Lord. Jesus is teaching the apostles to have this outlook, and that’s why he says to the disciples, how they would feed this crowd”? Reflecting on this, we should ask ourselves, how can we bring the presence of Christ, especially the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, to others.
Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Grow and Bear Fruit for the Glory of God!

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 13:24-30. The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field but an enemy came in the night and sowed weeds.
This shows the Kingdom is both now and a heavenly reality. Right now, we must contend with both the good and the bad. Yet the man who sowed the good seed knows what is good, that is, the good in creation and the good in us. We shouldn’t be distressed when we see evil, when see difficulties and challenges. Rather, God asks us to wait patiently and trust that He wants to reap a rich harvest.
Today were are called to remain in good soil, to grow and bear fruit for the glory of God!
Praised Be Jesus Christ!

The Parable of the Sower and the Seed

Today is the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus and the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 13:18-23.
Jesus explains the parable of the sower and the seed. The seed grows up especially in those hearts and minds of those that are willing to receive him. The seed that is faith planted by Christ can really grow.
St. Joachim and Anne are, according to the tradition of the Church, are great examples of good soil, open to the seed of faith. Joachim and Anne were patient for the gift of a child. Like the one who sowes the seed they understood, that sometimes our role is to wait in patience.
Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Those Who Lead Are To SERVE

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 20:20-28. Today is the feast of the Apostles James the Greater.
James’ and John’s mother asks that her sons would sit at Jesus’s right and left in His kingdom. Jesus asks if they are capable of drinking the cup prepared for Him, to which they say yes. Jesus makes clear that those who lead are to serve, thus the disciples aren’t to seek the places of honor, but to serve all others. Whoever wishes to be first, must be last.
Today, may we pray for the grace to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven by serving our Lord in others.
Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Is Our Heart Cultivated Well?

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 13:1-9. It is the very familiar parable of the sower and the seed.
As the seed grows, it grows on rocky soil, among the thorns, and good soil. On the rocky soil it grows but dies quickly because it has no root. Among the thorns the soil is good, but the weeds choke it. Finally in the good soil it grows and bears a fruitful harvest.
Those who preach the Gospel must bring the Good News to everyone, those with all kinds of soil. You can also expect to see a harvest in certain kinds of places. In places of good soil, good fruit, but in places with rocky soil or among the thorns, we must first cultivate the soil, to try and make it good soil. To help those pressured by the world to get to a place to receive the word more deeply.
Is the soil of our hearts well cultivated?
Praised Be Jesus Christ! 

Who is Christ's Brother?

Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 12:46-50.
“Whoever does the will of my Father” is mother, brother and sister to me. Whoever seeks and does the will of the Father is a brother or sister to Christ.
With this comes the responsibility to strive to live according to the Gospel. We must make it our aim, goal, and only focus to live as Jesus wants us to live. In His Word, love and mercy by the following of the Commandments.
Praised Be Jesus Christ!

Mary Magdalene, The Apostle to the Apostles

Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene and the reading is John 20:1-2,11-18.  In the Gospel Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. Mary is one of the first witnesses of the Resurrection and she is instructed to go to the other disciples to share the Good News of Christ’s resurrection!
Mary is one of the first bearers of the good news. We too are called to be His witnesses in the world. Through the intercession of St. Mary Magdalene, may we all be witnesses to the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection and work in our lives.
St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!

When Jesus Calls His Disciples to Rest

Today’s Gospel Reading is Mark 7:30-34.
After the apostles have gone out and have carried out the mission of proclaiming the Gospel, Jesus calls them back to rest together. 
Are we numbered among the crowd clamoring to know the Lord? The ones who follow Him in all things and desire to bring Him to others. Do we have the heart and mercy of Christ?

Jesus RESTORES us!

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 12:14-21. The pharisees begin their “rebellion” against Jesus. So, Jesus pulls back so that the focus can be on his teaching, and not so much the pharisees.  When He pulls back, he heals everyone who comes to him.
Jesus comes to bring us the gift we really need, to restore us with God. In this reading we see the “divine dance” where Jesus takes a step toward us, and, if we begin to run away, he takes a step back. Always moving, or “dancing”, so he can be in relationship with us.

Why Jesus's Disciples "Worked" on the Sabbath

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 12:1-8.  Jesus and his companions are picking the heads of grain as they walk through the fields. However, it’s the sabbath, and as such, they are “working on the Sabbath”.
Jesus speaks to the deeper meaning of the Sabbath. He wants us to not look at just the “strict” letter of the law, but also the spirit of the law. Remember, but the letter and the spirit of the law.
Man was not made for the Sabbath (to be burdened by the rule) but the Sabbath made for man (to offer us the time of rest).
 

Do We Only Turn to Jesus In Our Suffering?

Today’s Gospel Reading is Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus invites us to come Himself, to learn from Him. Yet, how easily we look for other things.
Do we only turn to Him in suffering? Do we do so automatically?