Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 16, 2025

Date: Thursday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: Hebrews 3:7-14

The Holy Spirit says:

Oh, that today you would hear his voice,

“Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion

in the day of testing in the desert,

where your ancestors tested and tried me

and saw my works for forty years.

Because of this I was provoked with that generation

and I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart,

and they do not know my ways.’

As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter into my rest.’”

Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The first reading for today from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews reminds us of the human capacity to “harden” our hearts to the LORD’s word and to the LORD’s loving mercy. Paul urges the readers, partners of Christ, to hold fast to their love of and faith in our loving and merciful LORD.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How aware am I of my human capacity to selfishly turn from the LORD’s word in search of my own will and desires? How can I strengthen my reliance upon and recognition of the LORD’s will for me?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit we lift our voices in praise and seek to live our lives so as to bring You glory. We pray that our hearts and minds may now and always remain open to You, your will, and your guiding law. Grant that as “partners of Christ” we may follow always in His footsteps, knowing that they will lead us home to life in abundance with You. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.