July 21, 2026 // Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time // Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 12:46-50
Reflect on the Word //
I hurried into the little country church on that beautiful summer day, heartbroken and weak, needing shelter. Some people I trusted and held very dear had hurt me deeply, and I did not know how to respond. I needed guidance from the Lord. I needed humility, so that I would be able to see past my own pain to the right path forward.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50). In my life, there have been times when the will of God felt utterly clear and undeniable. Discernment was easy. I saw the path brightly lit before me, and I walked confidently down it.
Other times, the options feel much more hazy. As I begged for guidance that day in church, the Holy Spirit prompted me to pray the Litany of Humility. I assumed that humility would allow me to put my needs aside and turn the other cheek. Then the Lord showed me that what I assumed was humility was actually fear and pride. I prayed for deliverance from the desire of being loved and approved, the fear of being despised and forgotten.
In this instance, God’s will for me was to create a boundary that protected my family from injustice and injury. It was not easy for me to set aside my pride and risk the disapproval of people I so desperately wanted to please.
It takes a huge amount of courage to discern and follow God’s will, especially when it causes us to turn away from the approval of friends or family. But Jesus promises that when we are faithful, we become His family. He knows what it’s like to be despised and rejected. His approval is worth infinitely more than the approval of any other.
As we grow in virtue, and in intimate knowledge of Scripture, His will becomes easier to discern. And as we continue to practice obedience and experience God’s faithfulness, those courageous leaps become easier to make.
Relate to the Lord // Pray the Litany of Humility today.
