Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 24, 2025

Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Scripture Text: Luke 4:24-30

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth:

“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today recounts Jesus’ response to the rejection of the people of his own hometown, Nazareth.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Am I open to the LORD’s power and presence manifested in the words and actions of those I know?

Praying:

LORD, open us to You and your awesome and ever-present loving power in our midst. Help us to better recognize You at work in our midst through the power of the Spirit at work in others. Grant that we may more fully discern your will for us in the moment and cooperate with the graced blessings of our lives. 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.