Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 21, 2026
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.”
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
My Dad (Joseph Blake ’61) taught his three daughters many lessons over his lifetime: how to drive (although the stick shift lesson didn’t actually stick), kindness for one another, an appreciation for learning, patience, and, for me, a love of travel and learning about new cultures through our monthly subscription to National Geographic.
But probably the most important lesson he taught me was not to allow hate into my heart or the actual word into my vocabulary. He would bristle at the utterance, even if it was just to say, “I hate these mushy Brussels sprouts.” He would gently remind us, repeatedly, that the word was unnecessary and unwelcome. The simple lesson took root and grew into what I now suspect was always his intention—the acceptance and openness to differences.
In today’s gospel, I don’t read the verses as a shunning of Mary or his brothers, but as an embrace of and openness to all his followers. “For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father, is my brother, and sister, and mother.” If only we could all see one another in this light! Then, we may look around us and recognize our neighbors as part of God’s larger family, our family. And when family is suffering or in need, we rise to meet the deficit and serve just as Jesus does.
As participants are completing their final days of the 2026 Family Volunteer Camp, I reflect on my own time with my daughter, Evy, during the summer of 2023. Neither of us was quite sure what to expect, but we arrived with an open heart and a willingness to work. We met and served side-by-side with families from all over the country and were introduced to the impactful work of local organizations striving every day to serve and meet needs. The week was a blessing and touched my heart in ways I can’t fully articulate. By Friday, our family had grown many times over.
And I know my Dad was watching from heaven with a smile on his heart.
Prayer
Loving God, we have heard the call of your Son, our faithful shepherd. May we imitate his love and compassion towards those we serve. Help us to be faithful in our responsibilities, and in our service of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Lawrence of Brindisi had a brilliant mind and used his influence to build the kingdom of God in both the secular and sacred spheres of his day.
He was born in Brindisi in the kingdom of Naples in 1559 and was given the name Cesare de Rossi. He was educated by Franciscans and furthered his studies in Venice. He decided to follow his teachers and became a Capuchin Franciscan priest, taking the name Lawrence.
He had a near-perfect recall of Scripture and learned Greek, Hebrew, German, Bohemian, French, and Spanish. Lawrence’s preaching was noticed by many, and he was entrusted with more responsibilities. Soon, he was given tasks by both the pope and the emperor that took him through Italy and Germany, where he founded new monasteries and developed the Church.
In one case, Lawrence even led the army. The emperor sent Lawrence to help the German princes repel Turkish forces threatening Hungary. Lawrence was appointed chaplain of the forces; known for his wisdom, the generals asked his advice when they faced a confrontation with the enemy. Lawrence advised attacking, and even rode before the army carrying a crucifix. The Turks were soundly defeated, and the victory was attributed to Lawrence’s assistance and example.
Lawrence continued to assist rulers of his age as a messenger and diplomat, and used his influence to improve governance and promote peace. He was worn out from all of his labors and travel and died in 1619. When his life and writings were reviewed in his cause for canonization, it was declared that he was to be honored as a doctor of the Church. Most of his writings were sermons, which stood out for teaching the faith so well.
Relics of St. Lawrence of Brindisi rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Lawrence of Brindisi, you were the diplomat who used your mind and heart to build the kingdom of God—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Lawrence of Brindisi is in the public domain. Last accessed March 20, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
