Daily Gospel Reflection for February 21, 2025

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

Today's Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1

We live in a post-Christian world that is turning its back on Jesus and His message of love and salvation. We live in a world where Christianity is mocked (remember the Olympic opening ceremony?) and Catholics are hated because we believe marriage is between a man and a woman and that killing unborn babies is not women’s healthcare. 

You, like me, have probably experienced this post-Christian viewpoint. It would be easy to be ashamed of my beliefs. I will admit that it’s often hard to speak them because I want to be liked and respected. I see the eye rolls and the looks that cross people’s faces. But when I read this Gospel and I talk to other friends who have decided to keep Christ at the center of their lives, I am fortified. When I receive the Eucharist, I am emboldened because I am reminded that it’s not those eye-rolling people that I live for. It’s Jesus. He’s the one who loves me like crazy and the one who sacrificed so I can be in heaven with Him for eternity. He’s the one I love so  much that sometimes it brings me to tears. How can I be ashamed of love? And how much would it hurt if He was ashamed of me?

God gives all of us what we need to navigate this world that is ashamed of Him. If we ask, He gives us words for those times we encounter the eye roll or the “look.” He gives us His Body and Blood  every day if we want. He gives us people to walk this journey with and He gives us hope. We can know with certainty that this life, this beautiful challenging life, is a foretaste of the extreme joy of the life to come. He is so good!

Ponder:

When have you encountered the "look," and how did you respond?

Pray:

Lord, give me the words when You desire me to speak of Your love. Fortify me with Your body and blood to keep You in the center of my life. 

Copyright 2025 Merridith Frediani