Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: February 20, 2025

Date: Thursday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: Mark 8:27-33

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.”

Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today taken from the Gospel of Mark recounts Jesus’ questioning of the Disciples as to who Jesus is. At first, they shared what others among the throngs following Jesus said. But when questioned about who the disciples themselves believed Jesus to be, Peter spoke up: “You are the Christ.” Jesus warned them not to tell others because Jesus didn’t want people confusing His mission of spiritual salvation with the expected mission of the messiah as military and national leader.

When Jesus shared with the disciples what was to happen to Him in Jerusalem, the disciples did not know how to respond. They may not have understood completely. Jesus’ reaction and response to Peter causes us pause. We, as humans, probably would not offer our own Son for the lives of others, but then again, we are not the LORD.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Who do I say Jesus is? Truly. Who do I say Jesus is?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You gave your only begotten Son to us as our brother and redeemer. You sent Him to dwell among us, to teach us, to reveal your great love for us and your will for us to have life in abundance with You. Send your Spirit, LORD, to inform our minds, to conform our wills, and to transform our hearts and souls so that we might more clearly see your beloved Son, Jesus, as the Christ, as our Brother, as our Redeemer, as “the Way and the Truth and the Life.” 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.