Daily Gospel Reflection for February 23, 2022

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

Today's Gospel: Mark 9:38-40

The Church sometimes teaches us lessons by simply placing the daily Gospel readings on certain dates in the liturgical year. Today we have a reading from the book of Saint Mark. Saint Mark was a young man during the time of Christ’s ministry. His Gospel reflects the immediacy of youth. Today’s Gospel is no different.

People in their early adulthood are often looking for their place in the world, their groups, and their friends. In today’s Gospel, Mark writes that the apostles were concerned about people not in their immediate group casting out demons in His name. Jesus reassured them by saying:

" . . . whoever is not against us is for us.”

This is perhaps a reassurance from Christ that our similarities are more important than our differences. Jesus quieted this concern.

Today is also the feast day of St. Polycarp, a disciple martyred as an old man, because he would not forsake his faith in Christ. At his advanced age, Polypcarp had learned to discern which battles and disagreements were important and which were not. When he took his final stand, it was to lay down his life as a witness to Jesus – a point that was truly worth dying for.

Ponder:

What important lessons does Jesus want to teach me at this point in my own life?

Pray:

Dear Jesus, Help me to overcome the trials and tribulations that face me today and help me to see the blessing that this phase of my life truly is.

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Mark was a young man during the time of Christ’s ministry. His Gospel reflects the immediacy of youth. Today is also the feast day of St. Polycarp. #dailygospel

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