Daily Scripture, January 23, 2025
Scripture:
Reflection:
In our Gospel reading, Mark relates that, even though Jesus “withdrew toward the sea with his disciples,” people followed Him, hoping to be healed. Their hopes were fulfilled, and Jesus did heal them.
Once again, we are reminded not only of Jesus’ power but of His love and mercy. We, too, can go to Jesus at any time, in any place, in any situation. We may not receive the healing or resolution we expect, or even want, but we have faith that we will receive what we need.
Our Gospel reading does speak to us about expectations. Mark tells us that when Jesus would encounter unclean spirits, they would shout, “You are the Son of God.” Mark also tells us that Jesus would warn them “sternly not to make him known.”
We see this often in Mark’s Gospel. Why was Jesus being so secretive? I have believed for some time that Jesus was being secretive about who He was, because He was trying to manage expectations. Many people at the time, and many people even now, expected to see the Savior as a kind of conquering warrior. And yet, Jesus did not save us by might or conquest as the world understands such things. He saved us through sacrifice. As we hear in our first reading from Hebrews: “He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself.” His disciples needed to witness His Cross and Resurrection before they could come to understand how He would be the Messiah.
It seems to me that, even though we are called to work for justice, we are called to bring healing more than retribution. It is in the love of God in Jesus Christ that we can work against evil and oppression. May we follow Jesus in love and mercy.
Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.
Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 John 10:1-10 Reflection: Our first reading today is one of my favorite stories in the Scriptures. We have Peter explaining to his fellow Christians why he was » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 4:8–12 1 John 3:1–2 John 10:11–18 Reflection: We are invited to reflect upon the Good Shepherd gospel from Saint John today. We may have visions of white, fluffy » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 9:31-42 John 6:60-69 Reflection: St. Anselm, whose feast day we celebrate each April 21, was a member of the monastery of Bec in France, when he was elected » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 9:1-20 John 6:52-59 Reflection: Both of our Scripture readings speak in some way about blindness. As we move through the Acts of the Apostles, we read the first » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 8:26-40 John 6:44-51 Reflection: Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 7:51-8:1a John 6:30-35 Reflection: In his Biblical Meditations for the Easter Season, the late Passionist priest and biblical scholar Carroll Stuhmueller, CP, noted that the death of Stephen, » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 6:8-15 John 6:22-29 Reflection: In today’s Gospel reading, when the crowd has spent some time looking for Jesus after He multiplied the loaves and the fish and fed » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 1 John 2:1-5a Luke 24:35-48 Reflection: In our Gospel reading from Luke, we hear the account of an appearance of the Risen Jesus to His disciples. » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 6:1-7 John 6:16-21 Reflection: In the Niccoline Chapel, located in the Vatican palace, there is a famous fresco that was painted by the great artist, Fra Angelico. This » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 5:27-33 John 3:31-36 Reflection: This meditation is based on today’s Word. “The One who comes from above (heaven) is above all….He whom God has sent speaks the words » Continue Reading.