Daily Gospel Reflection for March 4, 2025

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

Reflection by Fr. Edward Looney

Today's Gospel: Mark 10:28-31

Following Jesus comes with a cost. The Apostles knew that well. They sacrificed time with their families to follow Jesus. They left behind their work, boats, and nets. They sacrificed comforts and many other things to follow Jesus. They declare  this in the Gospel today:

“We have given up everything and followed you.”

It’s a cri de couer to Jesus; they mean it and believe it. 

This year, 2025, this reading comes to us on Fat Tuesday. It is the day before Ash Wednesday. Tomorrow we will give up something. We will not be giving up everything. We will give up full meals as we fast. We will give up time for prayer. We give up some creature comfort as a penitential act of sacrifice.

What have you given up to follow Jesus? The stories of the saints demonstrate how they gave up so much to follow God’s call. There are people today in the Church who have made personal sacrifices to do what they believed God was calling them to do. People leave well-paying jobs to go into ministry. They take leaps of faith and make acts of trust in God that He will provide for them. 

I’m willing to bet that maybe you and I have not yet fully followed Christ because we are afraid of what we might have to give up. It would do us well to reflect on what sacrifices we have made to follow Christ. Spend some time in quiet prayer. If you journal, make a list. In so doing, you will see what it has meant for you to follow Christ. 

Ponder:

Have you unreservedly followed Christ?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, I know You are calling me to follow You; help me to identify anything that is getting in my way of following You. I will give it up for Your sake, for Your glory. 

Copyright 2025 Fr. Edward Looney

Fr. Edward Looney is a priest of the Diocese of Green Bay, Marian theologian, author, and podcaster. Visit his website edwardlooney.com to learn more.