July 4, 2025 – Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary TimeCatholic Daily Readings & ReflectionOn the day America celebrates freedom from foreign rule, Jesus walks up to a traitorous tax collector and offers a deeper kind of independence:“Follow me.”Matthew’s decision to walk away from wealth, power, and social scorn to follow Jesus isn’t just a career shift—it’s the clearest picture of spiritual liberation in the Gospels. He trades financial security for eternal purpose. Toxic wealth for healing community. Social condemnation for divine mercy.Today’s Gospel is a rebuke to our modern idols of success and self-made freedom. It challenges us to ask:What enslaves us while pretending to empower us?What “freedom” actually keeps us spiritually shackled?Are we willing to walk away from false independence to experience true freedom in Christ?While America celebrates political liberty, the Church remembers that the most radical liberation begins at a tax booth—and ends at the feet of the Savior.📖 Readings:Genesis 23:1–4,19; 24:1–8,62–67Psalm 106:1b–2,3–4a,4b–5Matthew 9:9–13⏱️ Timeline:00:00 – Introduction00:15 – Reading I: Genesis 23:1–4,19; 24:1–8,62–6702:37 – Psalm Response: Psalm 106:1b–2,3–4a,4b–505:40 – Gospel: Matthew 9:9–1306:27 – ReflectionPerfect for Catholics reflecting on faith this Independence Day, Christians craving freedom from false securities, or anyone seeking to follow Christ with nothing held back.🟦 TagsMatthew tax collector Gospel, Jesus calls Matthew July 4, Catholic Independence Day, tax booth calling, spiritual freedom vs worldly wealth, Matthew dinner sinners, false freedom modern slavery, Jesus follow me tax collector, Gospel of Matthew 9, Catholic daily readings July 4, Matthew leaves everything for Jesus, toxic wealth spiritual bondage, divine mercy not sacrifice, spiritual liberty Catholic reflection#MatthewTaxCollector #SpiritualLiberation #CatholicDailyReadings #IndependenceDayFaith

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