Daily Gospel Reflection for January 23, 2023

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

Today's Gospel: Mark 3:22-30

Today marks the national memorial for the unborn, a time when we remember those precious babies who perished before they had a chance to touch their mother’s face or feel the warmth of the sun upon their bodies. It is a day when we recognize with sorrow the lives that have been lost as a result of unjust laws that do not respect the sanctity of innocent human life.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is challenged by those who question His power. They are suspicious and jump to the erroneous conclusion that He is in league with demons. How far from the truth they are! The Son of God is in their midst and yet they reject Him. In their topsy-turvy way of thinking, good is bad and bad is good.

Jesus responds to these insults with loving kindness, trying to teach the ill-informed by means of parables. He invokes lines that have now become legendary, such as, “…if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” Divisions lead to disarray—and ultimately can lead to spiritual death.

And yet, Jesus also makes a bold statement: that all sins and blasphemies will be forgiven. What a comforting thought, to know that God is ready to forgive all our transgressions!

The only exception is when we sin against the Holy Spirit by failing to accept God’s mercy. To reject God’s mercy is to reject God Himself and, ultimately, to reject love.

As we commemorate today’s memorial for the unborn, let us thank God for the gift of life and the gift of His love, through the power of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For the greatest gift God could bestow upon man is life itself.

Ponder:

What hinders me from believing that God is truly all-good and all-loving?

Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you this day in memory of those unborn children who unjustly lost their lives. May we always stand firmly for the Gospel of Life.