Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 18, 2024

Date:   Thursday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

 Scripture Text:  Mark 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him, they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today from Mark recounts how crowds who had heard of Jesus’ healings came from far and wide to see Him in hopes of being cured and made whole.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I seek out Christ in hopes of being made whole?

Praying:

LORD, we are your daughters and son, You created us and we are sustained by your love for us and desire that we might seek life in You, with You, and through You. Send your Spirit to stir within us the desire for eternal life with You during these times when the demands and difficulties of today weigh us down and consume our thoughts. Grant that your love for us will inform our minds and transform our hearts so that we turn to You in our need. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and rules with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.