Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 23, 2025

Date: Thursday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: Mark 3:7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

In the gospel text for today, Mark recounts how people responded when learning of Jesus and how they came to personally encounter Him, seeking healing, wholeness and freedom.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Have I intentionally sought to draw close to Christ? To encounter Christ?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only begotten Son, Jesus, to dwell among us and through His loving presence and selfless sacrifice to defeat sin and death. Send your Spirit to stir within us an awareness of our need for your Son in our lives so that we might seek Him out, seek to encounter Him, so that we might be healed, whole, and free. 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.