Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: June 9, 2023

Mark 12:35-37

As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, "How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said: The Lord said to my lord, 'Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.' David himself calls him 'lord'; so how is he his son?" The great crowd heard this with delight.

Breaking the text open:

Today is Friday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time, and our gospel reading continues our reading of the Gospel of Mark. Today’s text recounts Jesus’ enigmatic question about the Messiah in His teaching at the temple in Jerusalem just days prior to his arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. Many had come to identify Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ. But did their identifying Jesus as such truly encompass completely who Jesus is? As the Messiah, is He more than a human descendant of King David? Jesus’ question, using an exaltation from Psalm 110, presses his listeners to consider that He is not only Son of David but also Son of God.

What relevance does this text has for us today? What does it demand of us? Is it we embrace wholly and truly Jesus Christ as not only the Son of David, the Messiah, but also the Son of God, our Savior?

Meditating on the text:

Do I embrace wholly Jesus as both Son of Mary and Son of God?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only-begotten and most beloved Son to dwell among us. Your love for us necessitated our salvation. The love of your Son for You and for us equipped Him to endure his selfless sacrifice upon the cross for our redemption. Open our minds, hearts and souls, LORD, so that we might grasp the lengths and breadths of your love for us as most perfectly exhibited in your Son’s dying and rising to destroy sin and death. We ask this in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.