Daily Gospel Reflection for February 9, 2022

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

Reflection by Tracy Eisner

Today's Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

This is a tough Gospel reading as it mirrors so much of what we see in our world today. We only have to subject ourselves to any media outlet for five minutes or fewer to see the evidence of the evil that is present in the hearts of (wo)men. Personally, it is why we no longer watch the news or subscribe to a newspaper. The constant bombardment of evil thoughts resulting in murder, fraud, deception (the list goes on) leaves us feeling suspicious of our neighbors, fearful in our homes and towns, and separates and divides us as families, friends, and society. The media force us to focus on the negativity which comes from within. The media may not be THE evil, however, its hyper-focus on all that is negative in our world certainly appears to perpetuate evil by giving it center stage in our minds.

We can flip the narrative though.

From the heart also comes virtuous thoughts, chastity, giving of ourselves, healing, love, generosity, harmony, honesty, respect, kindness, reverence, humility, wisdom. For every negative action, there is an opposing positive force. The age old “good versus evil.” When we remove ourselves from the mass campaign wielding helplessness and hopelessness at us, let us look for the light which dispels all darkness. Let us purposely seek out the good, rejecting evil and living our life in a way that perpetuates genuine kindness in our world. Take the grocery cart back to the corral. Let the person with a handful of items cut in front of you at the grocery store. Bring dinner to a widow(er). Hug the friend who is struggling with darkness. Make eye contact and smile warmly to the homeless person on the corner (and hand them a snack if you have one handy). Respect each other’s political differences, stance on kneeling/standing, and vaccinated/non-vaccinated status. These aren’t personal attacks, and we need to stop reacting as if they were. Let us love one another and spread the good in our hearts, sprinkling it in every encounter we have, and maybe, just maybe, we can leave our world a little lighter and brighter along the way.

Ponder:

In what area of your life can you flip the narrative?

Pray:

Lord, help us have clarity in any area of our life that we feed negativity in our hearts, and give us courage and strength to spread light and love in that area and stamp out the darkness.

Click to tweet:
Let us purposely seek out the good, rejecting evil and living our life in a way that perpetuates genuine kindness in our world. #dailygospel

Copyright 2022 Tracy Eisner

Tracey Eisner is a wife of 27 years to her highschool sweetheart with four grown children (how did THAT happen?) and a dog and cat to round out the emptying nest. Lover of the beach and the mountains, a good cup of coffee with a book and a comfy chair!