Daily Gospel Reflection for January 17, 2024

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

Today's Gospel: Mark 3:1-6

Today's Gospel brings us into the synagogue, where Jesus notices a man with a withered hand. The crippled man is not able to provide for himself, nor can he take care of anyone else. “Come up here before us,” Jesus calls to him. He turns to the Pharisees, asking them,

“Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”

They stay silent, not willing to answer the obvious, so Jesus turns back to the man, saying, “Stretch out your hand.” His hand is instantly healed.

The man with the withered hand comes to Christ in the temple. He reaches out and receives. Being made whole, he is equipped to serve God fully, freely. Jesus offered healing to the Pharisees as well, to be open to a change of heart and mind, to break free of their rigid way of living, but they would not.

Jesus calls us to step out in faith, to draw near to Him. We all are in need of renewal, so let's bring our prayers “to the temple,” before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, to Christ in our hearts.

Ponder:

Jesus desires to heal us, to repair our brokenness and equip us for His work of helping others. Is something keeping you from serving Him fully, freely? Like the crippled man, come to Christ. Reach out and receive.

Pray:

Dear Jesus, You came to bring life. Restore and renew me in body and mind. Let me be made holy; let me be wholly Yours.

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Jesus calls us to step out in faith, to draw near to Him. We all are in need of renewal, so let's bring our prayers “to the temple,” before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, to Christ in our hearts. #DailyGospel

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