Daily Gospel Reflection for February 8, 2025

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

Today's Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

This passage tells us about the return of the Apostles after traveling in pairs to spread the Gospel. Jesus welcomed them and wanted to take care of them in a quiet place to restore their strength. The Gospel tells us they were so busy that they didn't even have time to eat!

We can also get very tired in our apostolate, and we need to answer Jesus’ call to go to the desert with Him, so He can restore our strengths and give us new fervor to continue to do our work for the Kingdom. This desert can be a retreat, some time before the tabernacle, or even a quiet time in prayer in our own home. It is very important that we take this time in the desert with Jesus because without refueling our strengths, our apostolate may be unfruitful.

We cannot give what we don't have. In order to give others the experience of Jesus´ love, we need to experience this love ourselves. One of the best ways to feel how Jesus loves us is to talk to Him in personal prayer and try to see all the care He gives to us on a daily basis. This time is also an opportunity to tell him everything we did in our apostolate, our successes but also our failures and disappointments. He will then heal our wounds and fill us with joy to continue our work.

The last part of the passage tells us that Jesus felt pity on the crowd that followed and started teaching them. The Apostles could rest because Jesus was taking care of the job. We also must acknowledge that we don´t need to worry about the fruits of our apostolate. We can rest because this is Jesus' job; He takes care of everything perfectly well.

Ponder:

When was the last time I went to the desert with Jesus so we could spend time together and He could restore my strengths?

Pray:

Dear Lord, help me know when it´s time to take a break in my apostolate and go with you to the desert. Help me to understand the importance of this time and make this appointment with You a frequent one.

Daily Gospel 2