Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 13,2026

Date: Tuesday of the 1^st Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:   Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the Synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”  Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet!  Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

 In today’s gospel reading from Mark, Jesus stands in contrast to the scribes in that He taught with authority and His authority extended to exorcising evil spirits.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

 Do I recognize Jesus as the “Holy One of God”? Do I come to Jesus and allow Him to free me from the things in my life that are oppressing me? Can I move from noticing Jesus to following Jesus?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only-begotten Son to dwell among us and take on our human nature in all ways except sin. You spoke through the Angel Gabriel proclaiming that His name would be Jesus – “The LORD saves”. And from You, through Him, and in the Spirit salvation came into our world. Send your Spirit to help us fully recognize your Son, Jesus, in our lives, in our world. Increase our faith, hope and love so that we might bring to Him the oppressive things in our lives and seek freedom from them. Grant that we may be aware daily of Jesus’ presence as He promised and that we may seek to follow in His footsteps as we promised as His disciples. 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.