Daily Gospel Reflection for January 11, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

Whenever I read that Jesus has “pity” in the Gospel, I pay very close attention. Here is the Son of God, Who came to save us, having a very human and deep emotion. I pay attention because it is a reminder of how much love Jesus has for us. The word pity is not used often today, and when it is, or at least when I hear it used, it is said with a slight hope of being able to distance the speaker from the person they have pity for or on.

Jesus does not distance himself at all. He moves right in close to the man, touches him, and heals him. That is who Jesus is: a healer.

We can visualize the skin of the man with leprosy and then see it made new, clean, and smooth after Jesus touches him. Sometimes, the healing that we need is internal. Our souls, our emotions, or our minds are in need of renewal. It cannot be seen and often hard to believe that Jesus can or will heal our internal wounds. Maybe those needs seem less important than physical needs. But we are mind, body, and soul connected as one whole, and internal needs are just as important as external ones.

We, too, by virtue of our faith in Him and our baptism, can heal in the name of Jesus. We can help others heal by listening, showing respect, caring for others' physical needs, being a shoulder to lean on when others are in pain, and, of course, praying.

The year 2024 is still very new. Why not enter into it with a sense of purpose in regard to healing internal and external wounds?

Ponder:

After a prayerful reading of the Gospel and reflection, make a list of whatever you would like healing from.

Pray:

In the name of Jesus, I ask for healing of whatever is causing pain in my body, mind, and soul. I ask all that is not of You to be gone.

Click to tweet:
Jesus does not distance himself at all. He moves right in close to the man, touches him, and heals him. That is who Jesus is: a healer. #DailyGospel

Daily Gospel 2