Daily Gospel Reflection for January 20, 2026

Reflect on how Christ's authority in Mark 2:23-38 challenges us to reconsider man-made conventions in our daily lives.

Today's Gospel: Mark 2:23-38

The other day, I found myself telling my husband that a trivial task had to be done a certain way. The moment the words left my mouth, I realized that my statement wasn’t really true. It was a rule that I had created myself and was now imposing on him unfairly.

What Christ does in today’s Gospel passage not only shows His authority, but also reminds us that the convention of man is not the convention of God. How often do we get stuck in a man-made situation, find ourselves spinning our wheels in frustration at obstacles of our own making? Maybe we would encounter new people if we switched where we sat in Mass each Sunday rather than rushing to save our usual pew. Maybe Sunday dinner is the perfect meal to order pizza, in order to give ample time for rest on the sabbath and reduce clean-up. As long as we live the truth that Christ is Lord over our lives, the details don’t matter.

Ponder:

What is one area of your life in which you have bound yourself by the standards of man rather than the standards of God?

Pray:

Lord, help us live by Your authority in every area of our lives.

Pray Together:

Identify the most difficult part of the week for your family and decide together on a way to break up the frustrating routine. Even a moment of prayer before continuing with the task at hand can be a helpful reminder of Christ’s presence and His authority over your lives.

Copyright 2026 Maura Gentry