Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 21, 2025

Date: Memorial of St. Agnes

Scripture Text: Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”

He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today recounts Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ criticism of his disciples for picking grain to eat on the sabbath. Jesus reminds the critics that the true purpose of the sabbath is to give rest to humanity. Jesus’ words are also compelling, prioritizing human needs over religious rigidity.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How do I keep the sabbath? How do I “rest” in the LORD? How do I honor the LORD with and in my rest?

Praying:

LORD, we praise You for all You are, Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier. We give thanks for our lives and our world. Help us on our journeys home to You to honor You in our labors but also in our rest, to love You with all our might and to love one another as ourselves. Grant that regardless of where we are, that we live as You created us to live, lives that point to You and to your loving mercy. 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.