Daily Gospel Reflections for Jul 4, 2026 | Holy Rosary - Joyful Mysteries

**SPEAKER_2** (0:48)
A reading from the Holy Gospel, according to Matthew.

**SPEAKER_3** (0:53)
Then John's disciples came to him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?
Jesus said to them, Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made. Neither do people put new wine into old wine-scans, or else the scans would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the scans ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wine-scans, and both are preserved.

**SPEAKER_2** (1:46)
The Gospel of the Lord The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast? Jesus answered them, Can the wedding guests moan as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
The disciples of John were puzzled. They saw people fasting and making sacrifices, yet Jesus' disciples seemed different. Jesus answered with an image everyone could understand, A wedding. A wedding is a time of joy. No one attends a wedding expecting to grieve. As long as the bridegroom is present, the guests celebrate. Jesus was telling them that God himself was among them. This was not a moment for moaning, but for rejoicing. Sometimes we can treat our faith as a list of duties. We focus on what we should give up, what we should do, or how much we should sacrifice. While these things have their place, they are not the heart of a relationship with Christ. The heart of faith is Jesus himself. Fasting, prayer, and other spiritual practices are valuable because they draw us closer to him. Without that relationship, they can become empty routines. With him, they become expressions of love.
Jesus also reminds us that there are different seasons in our spiritual lives. There are moments of celebration and moments of longing. There are times when God's presence feels near and times when we seek him more earnestly. In every season, the goal remains the same, to stay close to Christ. Do I see prayer, fasting, and other spiritual practices as ways to draw closer to Jesus, or have they become mere habits?
Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting me into a relationship with You. Help me never to lose sight of Your presence amid my daily routines and spiritual practices. Teach me to seek You with a sincere heart and to find my joy in walking with You.
Amen.

**SPEAKER_4** (5:16)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

**SPEAKER_1** (5:20)
Amen.

**SPEAKER_4** (5:21)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day, he arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From there, he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

**SPEAKER_1** (5:52)
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

**SPEAKER_4** (6:03)
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

**SPEAKER_1** (6:11)
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

**SPEAKER_4** (6:25)
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

**SPEAKER_1** (6:34)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

**SPEAKER_4** (6:40)
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

**SPEAKER_1** (6:49)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

**SPEAKER_4** (6:56)
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with the blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

**SPEAKER_1** (7:04)
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.