Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: July 21,2026

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text:  Matthew 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, asking to speak with him. Someone said to Him, “Your mother and your kin are outside desiring to speak with you.” But He answered and said to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my kin?” He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Behold my mother and my kin. Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

MEDITATIO - Meditate on text, allow the LORD to touch us with His Word:

Do I seek to discern and do the will of the Father in heaven?

BREAKING OPEN THE TEXT:

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is not speaking unfavorably about His mother or his kin. Instead, He is emphasizing the spiritual bonds that supersede the biological ties. We know that Mary was one who did the will of the Father, so obviously Jesus is not speaking against her. Instead, He is showing us that we are called to be family and as with all families, it is the love that binds us.

ORATIO – Lifting our minds and hearts to the LORD in prayer:

Almighty and loving Father, we recognize that we are only because You are and because of your love. Send your Spirit to stir within us so that your love is formative in our lives. Grant that we may learn to seek your will and with joy surrender to it as your only-begotten Son taught us through word and through His own sacrifice for love of You and love of us. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.

CONTEMPLATIO – Sitting with the LORD in silence for a minute or more