Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 19,2026

Date: Monday of the 2^nd Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:   Mark 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

 In today’s short gospel reading, Jesus gives us much to consider. First, He identifies Himself as “the bridegroom” and His followers as “wedding guests.” He is telling us that His time on earth heralded in a time of celebration and the coming of the Kingdom. Second, Jesus urges us to change through the power of the Holy Spirit. We must “turn” or convert and take on new ways, new spiritual growth, new life-giving habits rather than trying to simply patch our old sinful ways.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I keep trying to “patch” rather than start anew in Christ with the help of the Spirit? Am I clinging to my old ways rather than turning to Christ, truly picking up my cross, and following Him?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, in your wisdom and from your love, You sent your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He is the Word made flesh. He revealed to us your great love and your desire that we have life and have it in abundance. We celebrate with great joy the gift of your Son for our salvation. We ask that You send your Spirit to help us live as He taught us, to walk as He showed us, to follow His Way. Grant that we may recognize those parts of our lives that need change and help us to set down our old ways for love of You. 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.