Courage in Humility

Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Micah 7:14-15, 18-20

Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
That dwells apart in a woodland,
in the midst of Carmel.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old;
As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt,
show us wonderful signs.Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt
and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;
Who does not persist in anger forever,
but delights rather in clemency,
And will again have compassion on us,
treading underfoot our guilt?
You will cast into the depths of the sea
all our sins;
You will show faithfulness to Jacob,
and grace to Abraham,
As you have sworn to our fathers
from days of old.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 85:2-4, 5-6, 7-8

R. (8a) Lord, show us your mercy and love.
You have favored, O LORD, your land;
you have brought back the captives of Jacob.
You have forgiven the guilt of your people;
you have covered all their sins.
You have withdrawn all your wrath;
you have revoked your burning anger.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Restore us, O God our savior,
and abandon your displeasure against us.
Will you be ever angry with us,
prolonging your anger to all generations?
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Will you not instead give us life;
and shall not your people rejoice in you?
Show us, O LORD, your kindness,
and grant us your salvation.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.

Alleluia John 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,
his mother and his brothers appeared outside,
wishing to speak with him.
Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside,
asking to speak with you.”
But he said in reply to the one who told him,
“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”
And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father
is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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.

Be a Woman of the Word

About Elizabeth Blanke Show

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Elizabeth Blanke Show is a remarried widow and mama to seven beautiful kiddos. She is passionate about creating community, and loves gathering people to share meals and music in her home. She also loves spending time in nature and exploring new places. You can find her on Instagram @elizaraxi.