Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Lectio Divina | Daily Catholic Prayer | Gospel Reflections

https://lectiodiv.wordpress.com/2025/02/25/wednesday-of-the-seventh-week-in-ordinary-time/

From the responsorial psalm: "Trust in the LORD and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. Take delight in the LORD, and he will grant you your heart's requests. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (9:30-37, today's readings)

Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me."

As Jesus travels with the disciples through Galilee, he tells them about his coming passion, death, and resurrection. Unable to understand him, they ask no questions but on the way to Capernaum discuss who among the disciples is the greatest. Once inside the house where they would stay, Jesus shares with them what true greatness means as his disciples: the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. The child from within the house that Jesus places before them is somehow closely related to the disciples, possibly a son or daughter or nephew or niece of one of the disciples. In receiving the child, Jesus teaches us what the love of a father for his children looks like as he speaks of his own Father and ours as the "One who sent me."

Father in heaven, teach me to put myself last of all today. In doing what is necessary today, help me look first to the needs of others even as I accomplish my tasks. Nothing extraordinary is likely to happen today as I try to act on being "the last of all and the servant of all." Yet, let me receive the gifts you give me today and not take my own agendas so seriously that I forget you, the giver of all that is good. The psalmist's prayer is to "trust in the LORD and do good." Give me the grace to take to heart this seemingly simple task today for the sake of your glory.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "The LORD is king, in splendor robed; robed is the LORD and girt about with strength. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (9:14-29, today's readings)

Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

Taking place immediately after the Transfiguration as Jesus comes down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and meets the other disciples, today's Gospel describes Jesus' encounter with a man whose son is possessed. In an argument with some scribes after attempting to drive out the demon, the disciples face the lack of faith of the father and the scribes. That is why Jesus says to them, "O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?" Jesus then asks them to bring the boy to him, whose spirit throws him to the ground in convulsions. The father asks for Jesus compassion and help, saying "if you can do anything." Jesus redirects the father's attention to everything that is possible through faith in God. In response, his profession of faith is a prayer for all who have faith in the Lord: "I do believe, help my unbelief."

God, help me trust that you can do the impossible, especially in circumstances that appear to have no solution. Just as the father asks for help on behalf of the son, let me come to you with firm conviction in faith that you alone can restore us to your image. Daily life seems to produce abundant barriers to the realization of hope sought through continual prayer. Yet, through Jesus Christ your Son, you transfigure human dignity in a way that accomplishes your plan for salvation while respecting free will. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts," you say through Isaiah, "neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD." Lord, strengthen my faith!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. The Lord is kind and merciful.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (6:27-38, today's readings)

"But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

In these words, Jesus might seem to impose a standard that is too high for anyone who has received mistreatment from others. In cases of abuse, turning the other cheek is not about passively accepting it but instead refusing to engage in cycles of mistreatment and a commitment to breaking the patterns of aggression, degradation, and manipulation that inherently assault one's human dignity. Even so, the forgiveness that Jesus calls us to is not of earthly origin; it comes from the Father, and we receive it as his children. As Saint Paul writes, we have borne the image of the earthly man, Adam, we will also bear the image of the heavenly one, "As a father has compassion on his children," the psalmist says, "so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him." With the love of the Father—the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ—who first loved us, we are to love our enemies and expect nothing in return.

Father in heaven, teach me to forgive; show me how to be merciful as you are merciful. Help me always to forgive no matter what and to reconcile with others whenever possible. Give me all the grace needed to continue to forgive when mistreated and to know that it is not meant for me to hold as your child but is for the sake of your Son's passion and death and for him to bear. When reconciliation is for the moment out of reach, teach me in that moment to forgive as best as I am able as I receive and give away your mercy for the sake of your glory. The Lord is kind and merciful. Jesus, I trust in you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (16:13-19, today's readings)

"And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

By asking the disciples two questions, Jesus brings into focus an understanding of him that goes beyond human observation. "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" In asking this, Jesus opens up to them the reality of his divine Sonship. Jesus further brings them to another realization by asking, “But who do you say that I am?” Hearing Peter's answer, Jesus acknowledges what the Father reveals to him. He confers upon Peter the governance of his Church and the authority to make binding decisions regarding moral and doctrinal matters. In matters of faith and morals as he is guided by the Holy Spirit, the pope is the servant of servants of God, which continues in apostolic succession throughout the centuries. We acknowledge papal authority because Jesus himself conferred it upon Peter, whose profession of faith—"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."—is the rock on which the Church is built.

God, deepen my understanding of the gift of the Church and the papacy. Jesus asks the disciples questions that he also asks his followers every day. Help me see in the Church and the sacraments the teachings and guidance of Jesus, given out of love, as pure gifts to his people. Lord, in exile while on earth, I have the Church to guide and light my way for all the days of my life; in the life of the world to come, I have her for endless length of days—the light of your face in your heavenly kingdom. Saint Peter, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations; he foils the designs of peoples. But the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (8:34—9:1, today's readings)

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life?"

Speaking both to the crowds and to his disciples, Jesus teaches them the necessity of denying oneself and taking up one's cross. In this dense teaching, he says the word life four times. To gain one's life is to lose it for the sake of Christ; to detach from all that the world offers is to work toward coming into his kingdom in his Father's glory, the Second Coming. If to profit in this life means to forfeit the life of the world to come, all the profit in the world is loss. The paradoxes Jesus shares—all centering around life and the cross—are not clever inversions but truth spoken by the person of truth, the Incarnate Word. What is our truthful response to the Word made flesh and the nature of his relationship with us? The Gospel acclamation makes this clear: "I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me."

God, let me remember the words of Saint Peter Damian as he speaks about the necessity of carrying the cross. He said, "For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection." The people in the first reading were united by a common language but saw their unity crumble in the tower they built out of self-adulation. In the midst of the day, help me lose life for your sake so that I gain it. Give me the grace to detach from what is transient and work for the profits that bring me to you in the unity of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ your Son. Saint Peter Damian, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the Gospel acclamation: "Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (8:27-33, today's readings)

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

By their own profession of faith spoken by Peter, the disciples tell Jesus that he is Christ, the Son of Man. By asking them questions, Jesus hears their answers and takes their exchange a step further. He begins to teach them about his coming passion, death, and resurrection. Peter's image of Christ the Messiah is discordant with the truth of Jesus' mission, so he rebukes him. Jesus is perfectly obedient to the will of the Father, fulfilling his plan for our salvation. What Peter doesn't understand, he makes clear to him even as he turns his gaze to the disciples. That God has a plan for us in Jesus, there is no doubt, as we hear him say in the first reading, "For in the image of God has man been made."

God, help me see clearly where my plans end and yours begin. I pray to be free of unwieldy desires to control what I can't control and instead to let you take that from me. In your image, I am made free in order to freely choose to do your will. As Saint John Paul II said, “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” Peter did not desire to see Jesus face his coming persecution and death, but he was powerless to impose his will on a plan Jesus freely chose to fulfill. Give me the grace, Lord, to recognize and name your divinity and think as you do but not as human beings do. Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the Gospel acclamation: "May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to his call."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (8:22-26, today's readings)

Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked, “Do you see anything?” Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly.

Today's Gospel acclamation points to what Mark tells us about Jesus as he restores sight to the blind man. The eyes of our hearts need enlightenment in order to see the hope that Jesus is as he stands before us. When Jesus first lays hands on the blind man, anointing him with spittle, he sees indistinctly with distorted vision. When Jesus lays hands on him a second time, his sight is restored perfectly. The interaction between Jesus and the blind man demonstrates the need for relationship with Jesus, to hear and respond to him as he teaches us to see distinctly with the eyes of our hearts.

God, just as the blind man's vision was clouded and obscured, so is mine in many ways. You alone, Lord, are the just judge who knows the truth of my dependence on you to see you and this present reality with eyes made to behold what is true and good and beautiful. Through your grace, do the continual work necessary to restore my sight as I respond to the love you give in your word and in the sacraments of your Church on earth. You know me and you probe me. In the psalms, what do I have to offer if not gratitude for all your good gifts? "To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "The voice of the LORD is over the waters, the LORD, over vast waters. The voice of the LORD is mighty; the voice of the LORD is majestic.  The Lord will bless his people with peace."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (8:14-21, today's readings)

And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

On a boat with the disciples, they tell Jesus they have only one loaf of bread with them. Jesus says to them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Jesus observes that they don't understand him and asks them whether they comprehend what he means. "Are your hearts hardened?" he asks them. "Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?" Because they don't yet understand the identity of Jesus as the Son of God and his mission, he goes on to remind them of his feeding of the crowds and asks again if they still don't understand, spoken not out of questioning their ability to comprehend him but out of love. In this way, he brings us not to a place of self-doubt but one of greater trust in his divinity and goodness as he invites the disciples and all of us to understand him more deeply.

God, help me remember today what Jesus calls me to in questioning my understanding of him. This is not to cast a shadow on your gift of intellect but to draw me closer to him. Let me welcome the question "Do you not yet understand or comprehend?" In a million years, I would not yet understand. Yet, Jesus condescends to make a place for me nearer and nearer to him as I grow to greater understanding through childlike faith. Give me the grace, Lord, to trust in your providence for everything and to stay in the boat with you in the midst of adversity. Give to the LORD the glory due his name!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “'You sit speaking against your brother; against your mother’s son you spread rumors. When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.' Offer to God a sacrifice of praise."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (6:17, 20-26, today's readings)

“Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

The Pharisees come to Jesus asking for a sign from heaven. At this, Mark says, Jesus "sighed from the depth of his spirit." After he tells them no sign will be given to them, he gets in the boat again and goes to the other shore, continuing his mission elsewhere. Jesus sighs, seeing as God sees, the blindness of his people. Just as God warned Cain about "a demon lurking at his door" and the psalmist calls out those who "sit speaking against your brother," Jesus sees the evil we are capable of that he brings out into the light.

God sees because he is God and we are not. Even in the presence of the Incarnate Word, the sight of faith sometimes fails to function. Jesus is not just a sign but the visible sign of the invisible God who delivers for us his ultimate plan for salvation.

God, help me see as you see. Through the truth of the risen Christ, I am set free to know and worship you, to find meaning even as I ponder the mystery of Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. As Saint John Paul II said, "Through this revelation, men and women are offered the ultimate truth about their own life and about the goal of history." I don't see you, Lord, as I ought. In my shortcomings, strengthen my faith that you alone are the Lord, to offer you a sacrifice of praise in making yourself known through the incarnation of your Son. "I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus, I trust in you!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked, nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 6:17, 20-26, today's readings)

And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours."

Jesus speaks to the disciples and great numbers of people. They come, as Luke tells us, from Judea and Jerusalem and the wealthy Phoenician regions of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus shares the Beatitudes with both Gentiles and Jews, rich and poor, the satisfied and the hungry. In speaking to them face to face on a level plain as the Just Judge, he raises the lowly and brings to the level of dust the wealthy. The poor are not satisfied in their hunger, and the rich are not satiated by what has brought them to prosperity. The words of Jesus are not mere observations on the state of humanity; his words level mountains. In the Communion antiphon for today, we hear how his words take root and fulfill us, at whatever level we stand in life: "They ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them; they were not disappointed in what they craved."

God, help me learn to be satisfied less with the food the world offers and rely more and more on the sustenance you provide. Jeremiah reminds me that to stay rooted in you, I am not to put my trust in human beings, in the strength of flesh. Instead, he says, "Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD." The kingdom of God is here and yet to be. Give me the grace and wisdom not to be filled now, not to pursue consolation as an end in itself, but even in the midst of difficulty and suffering to "be glad and leap for joy" at the true food you give me today. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 8:1-10, today's readings)

His disciples answered him, "Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?" Still he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They replied, "Seven."

In this passage known as the Feeding of the Four Thousand, the words Jesus speaks are as profound as the miracle he performs. What was left over after the miracle also speaks of God's abundant mercy—seven basketsful of fragments. Aware of the physical needs of the crowd following him for three days, Jesus feels great compassion for them, and we hear him say, "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd." His care for them extends beyond their physical presence with him: "If I send them away hungry to their homes," Jesus says, "they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance." The great distance they have come is an expression of their desire to be with the Lord, to stay with him. All-knowing and ever merciful, Jesus not only supplies them with food to satisfy hunger but with the fulfillment of our deepest longings.

God, help me trust that you look to the needs of your people at all times with compassion and mercy. What I tend to think I need during the day turns out to be not a need at all but more the fulfillment of requirements I set for myself. Jesus looks out over the crowd and sees what they need and immediately provides for them. Let me put myself in the sometimes uncomfortable disposition to receive your mercy and be fed by you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile. Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 7:31-37, today's readings)

He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.

The ears of the deaf man are opened because of the miracle Jesus performs but also because people bring the man to Jesus. Not in isolation, the man experiences the love of others who believe Jesus can restore his hearing and speech. In the first reading, the serpent finds and isolates Eve, effectively dividing her from the union she has with Adam and God and all of creation. In restoring the deaf man, Jesus doesn't merely undo what the evil one did in the Garden of Eden; he restores the man to wholeness in a foretaste of the new creation, the beatific vision in the life of the world to come. Mark tells us that the man's speech impediment was removed and that he spoke plainly. The plain speech that drives the evil one away is one word: Jesus.

God, let me see the peace that results from the work Jesus accomplished while on earth and the hope of eternal life in his passion, death, and resurrection. At creation, Lord, you said you found all that you had made very good. Jesus took the deaf man aside, away from others who loved and cared for him, in order to draw him into more intimate union with you. In opening his ears and lips, Jesus restores him to your plan for creation so that all may say of your glory, "He has done all things well." Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son. Saints Cyril and Methodius, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Blessed are those who fear the Lord."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 7:31-37,today's readings)

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, "Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She replied and said to him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps." Then he said to her, "For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter."

Wherever he goes, Jesus cannot escape notice, even among the Gentiles. People come to him from all sides, as the woman in today's Gospel does for the sake of her daughter. In responding to the woman, Jesus refers to the claim of the Jews that they first receive his ministry as God's chosen ones. But for the mother who sees the suffering of her daughter, that claim does nothing to hold her back. Jesus gives her the opportunity to demonstrate the depth of her faith expressed in desperate need. Similarly, in the first reading from Genesis, we see the dignity of Adam and Eve standing before God in complete reliance on him, both naked yet feeling no shame. Jesus invites us to come to him with the same dignity, in complete recognition of all he can do for us in his mercy as our Lord and creator.

God, just as the woman approached Jesus, aware of her otherness but in great need, I ask for the grace to do the same. In willing to do anything to restore her daughter's health, the mother had heard of Jesus and simply fell at his feet on meeting him. Help me today put to work the exemplary persistent faith of the woman and her holy fear and reverence as she knelt before you. At creation, "The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame." In humility and childlike trust, let me remember to come to you throughout the day, to come with persistence, and to plead that your will—which is love—be done for me and others. Blessed are those who fear the Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! You are clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light as with a cloak. O bless the Lord, my soul!"

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 7:14-23,today's readings)

“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

After the Pharisees criticize the disciples of Jesus for not following Jewish traditions of purification, Jesus tells the disciples, "Nothing that enters one from from outside can defile that person." From the heart come a host of evil thoughts and actions, extending all the way back to original sin in the Garden of Eden. What defiles, Jesus tells us, is not what enters the stomach but what enters the heart and comes from within. This is why baptism and repentance are necessary to restore us to God, because God restores us to the truth. The Gospel acclamation for today is: "Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth." What we once took for ourselves from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Jesus gives us abundantly through the sacraments—the embodiment of his passion, death, and resurrection.

God, in recognition that what defiles comes from within, flood me with your grace and mercy today. Left to myself, I have nothing; you are the source of every good gift. The vices that come from my heart have no place to hide in the dark but are scattered by the light of your face. Help me call to mind that after looking on everything you made, you found it very good. Be with me today, Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place—What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 7:1-13, today’s readings)

He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

The Pharisees observe that the disciples of Jesus eat their meals with unwashed hands and fail to purify themselves after coming from the marketplace, according to Jewish tradition. In questioning Jesus about this, they point out that the disciples are not followers of the tradition of the elders. Jesus’ response cuts to the heart of the issue as he quotes Isaiah to reveal their oppressive teaching and deep-rooted hypocrisy. He criticizes the Pharisees for allowing traditions to undermine God’s inherently good commandments through their strict adherence to rituals. Intentions matter; in prayer and ritual observance, where do we find God except in hearing and doing his will, inclining our hearts to his decrees?

God, your law is rooted in love, mercy, and justice. Through the person of Jesus, you give us every one of these gifts—not a set of prohibitions or obligations but a call toward the good to build relationship with you and others in a way that corresponds to your will. When Jesus says the Pharisees nullify your word and that they “do many such things,” give me the grace to recognize the ways I turn away from you and your word. When I am tempted to think that those who set aside your commandments and instead upheld tradition lived and died a long time ago, guide me to the realization that I myself have done the same and will do the same again. From Genesis, I read: “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.” Guide me, Lord, to see as you see. Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! You are clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light as with a cloak. May the Lord be glad in his works.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 6:53-56, today’s readings)

They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

Word of Jesus spread quickly throughout the whole region. In Gennesaret, as soon as people realized Jesus set foot on the shore, they begin to bring their sick to him. Not long before, on his way to heal Jairus’s daughter, a woman came to Jesus only to touch his cloak and was healed. Perhaps people heard this story told and began to hurry to get their sick loved ones to Jesus as soon as he was present. Mark tells us this about the places Jesus visits: “Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.” Jesus rewards the great faith these people act on with teaching and healing, bringing them to wholeness in this life while preparing them for life in the world to come.

God, help me rest today in the true hope and consolation of Jesus Christ your Son. “Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people,” the Gospel acclamation says. Time after time, Lord, let me come to you to hear your word and to know genuine gratitude for all your good gifts. In receiving you in the Eucharist, I begin to perceive the peace the people experienced as you healed them of their illnesses. Stay with me, Lord; make me whole. Memorial of Saint Scholastica, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "Your right hand saves me. The LORD will complete what he has done for me; your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 5:1-11,today's readings)

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.

Luke describes the calling of the first disciples, namely Simon Peter, James, and John. Commenting on this passage, Saint John Paul II said, "Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." By saying this, he reminded us that God continually calls us to live a deeper, more purposeful life. Simon Peter's response to Jesus is an example of faith and humility; an experienced fisherman, Peter would have known well when and where to catch fish. Returning to the shore, Peter professes Jesus as Lord, not fit to be in his presence. Jesus says to him, calling him to his mission of evangelization: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."

God, help me understand that you dwell in depth and mystery yet are ever present in the sacraments of the Church, especially in the real presence of the Eucharist. My own will, like Peter's, moves from what it knows and toward what it knows. Give me the grace to hear and understand your will in the depth of my heart and then act on it. Guide me away from the mediocrity of determining that my life's purpose is self-circumscribed. From the deep, unseen places where you are and through the body and blood of Jesus, guide me toward accepting your will and doing what you ask of me. Make clear to me, Lord, what it is you wish me for to do.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the Gospel acclamation: "A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (today's readings)

As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”

Following the calming of a storm at sea, Jesus and the disciples arrive at the region of Gerasenes and encounter a man possessed by demons. Living among the tombs and restrained by chains and shackles he smashed, the demon-possessed man meets Jesus at the shore. Night and day, Mark tells us, the man cried out and bruised himself with stones. Recognizing Jesus by name, the demons identifying themselves as Legion, beg Jesus not to torment them. Granting their request, Jesus sends the demons into a nearby herd of pigs, which immediately rush down a steep bank into the sea. The man returns to his right mind, and the witnesses and nearby townspeople beg the man to leave, who first attempts to go with Jesus and then travels to the Decapolis to proclaim what Jesus has done for him. The people are amazed, and word of Jesus begins to spread. Sometimes life would have us living among tombs, possessed by inner demons. If Jesus drove out Legion, he can drive out any of those who name themselves or any who dwell in us in anonymity. "Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord."

God, stay beside me this moment and throughout the day as I meditate on the power of Jesus Christ your Son to name and cast out any evil within me. Thanks be to you, Lord, for the gifts of baptism and reconciliation and the true food and true drink of the Eucharist. Jesus commanded the possessed man to do one thing. Let me open my heart in gratitude to his command and find joy in it: “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Help me remember your compassion, Lord, as I place my trust in you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!"

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (today's readings)

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted—and you yourself a sword will pierce—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The words of Simeon to Mary are powerful, and from Mary's viewpoint must have been very disquieting. For her to hear that Jesus will figure into the lives of many in Israel and that he will be a sign of contradiction is unsettling enough. To add to that, Simeon tells her that she herself will be pierced by a sword. This foreshadows the suffering Mary will endure at the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus. And for what purpose? "so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." At the end of the passage, Luke says this about all the years ahead that Jesus would spend in the home of Joseph and Mary after they presented him to the Lord: "The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him."

God, help me understand what Simeon and Anna understood about Jesus. As they awaited the consolation of Israel throughout their long lives, they witnessed him firsthand, "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." Confident in his faith at seeing his salvation, Simeon was able to say, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go." Give me the grace, Lord, to receive the Eucharist with the same faith, realizing that you are truly present in the form of bread and wine—that it is the king of glory, the Lord, that I take and receive and let dwell within me. "Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!"

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the bonds of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (today's readings)

Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

In the first reading, Saint Paul mentions the word faith—what he defines as "the realization of what is hoped for"—six times as he recounts the faith of Abraham, who followed God and received the fullness of God's promises. Using the word just once, Jesus questions the disciples after he calms the storm. And with a single word, the same one with which Jesus silences demons, he calms the storm by saying "Quiet!" While the disciples stood in awe of Jesus' mastery over the elements, we know what they didn't know about him yet: he is the risen Christ, the Son of God, who destroys death and restores life. The disciples ask him beforehand, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Jesus answers as he always does when we question his sovereignty over every moment in our lives: "Do you not yet have faith?"

God, throughout the day, help me remember three words Jesus spoke to the disciples: "Quiet! Be still!" In order to hear that voice, I have to remain in the boat with him in the midst of storms. Give me the grace to remain there and not cast myself into sea swells. I'm sure that sometime in the future for a yet-unknown reason, my prayer will be "Don't you care, God?" In that moment, Lord, don't let me lose sight of you seated in the stern. Remove all fear, and strengthen my faith. Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "Trust in the LORD and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. Take delight in the LORD, and he will grant you your heart’s requests. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (today's readings)

Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear."

Of its own accord, the seed of the kingdom of God sprouts and grows and ripens for the harvest. Jesus speaks in parables to the crowds so that they receive and let take root the word of God as children receive the love and guidance of parents. "With many such parables," Mark tells us, "he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it." Jesus' revelation of the kingdom is more than the sharing of factual information; it is an invitation to participate in its wonder and mystery. In receiving the word, as Saint Paul puts it, we are "among those who have faith and will possess life" as the smallest of seeds grow to the fullness of grain that is harvested and gathered.

God, your kingdom is here and now and yet to be. In it, "we live and move and have our being." Help me today to hold on to a childlike sense of faith and wonder at your presence in the world and in the events of the day that are close to home as they unfold. The Gospel acclamation reminds me that "you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom." Let me turn my attention less to the things that I can make grow and thrive and more to your eternal will being done as things take place seemingly of their own accord. Lord, let me take refuge in you; sustain and save me. Saint John Bosco, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 4:21-25)

He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Jesus continues teaching the disciples, placing his focus on the purpose and impact of his message by making two comparisons: the light from a lamp and ears for hearing. What Jesus reveals is not meant to be hidden away but instead given a place of prominence so that the revelation illuminates all of the lives it touches. "The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you" is to say that you receive what you put in, whether attentive to his words or indifferent or dismissive of them. Jesus calls us to actively listen to him and respond to his teachings, which is essential to growing in faith and understanding of his message.

God, as Saint Paul encourages in the first reading, let me do today as I approach you with a sincere heart and absolute trust. So many moving pieces go into a day that it is sometimes hard to see the light that shines right in front of me or to listen attentively for your quiet voice amid a bustle of activity. “Take care what you hear," Jesus says. And anyone who has hears, which is everybody, ought to hear and see what his revelation makes visible. Lord, keep me far from being the one who has not. Give me the grace to receive still more from you as I measure out the breadth and depth and height of your word. "Such is the race that seeks for him," the psalmist prays, "that seeks the face of the God of Jacob."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the Gospel acclamation: "The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 4:1-20)

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown."

Using a parable about a sower, Jesus describes conditions in life that we all face at one time or another. Jesus explains to the crowd gathered around him by the sea that the seed represents the word of God and that different types of ground symbolize the various responses to his word. Whether through persecution or distraction or anxiety or succumbing to the evil one, we sometimes fail to see God's word take root. "But those sown on rich soil," Jesus says, "are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” What kind of soil will the sower of the word find in us as he comes to sow his word?

God, help me prepare my heart to receive your word so that it takes root and bears fruit "thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” The seed that you come to plant will grow throughout my life and continue to grow even into eternal life through the single sacrifice of Jesus Christ your Son. You are the sower who promises and delivers, as Jeremiah prophesied, through the New Covenant to put your laws into our hearts and write them upon our minds. Give me the grace, Lord, to make of myself a good seedbed of rich soil, ready to receive your word. In fruitfulness, let it grow abundantly in this life and continue to grow under the eternal light of your presence. Let me hear and accept your word.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

🔵 Thank you for supporting Lectio Divina Gifts! Please consider supporting the production of these daily reflections with a financial gift through Stripe, a secure payment platform that protects your data. Your support helps us keep going! From the responsorial psalm: "I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me. And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God. Here am I Lord; I come to do your will."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 3:31-35)

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

As the mother of Jesus and his brothers stand outside, word is sent to Jesus that they wish to speak to him. Commonly referred to as brothers were extended family members such as cousins. Jesus tells the crowd who his family is as he looks around at each of them. At the coming of Jesus, Saint Paul tells us, the will of the Father takes the place of sacrifices of burnt offerings and sin offerings. "By this 'will,' Paul says, "we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all."

God, help me dwell today on the divine guidance the readings give in doing your will. The psalmist says, "Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, 'Behold I come.' Here am I Lord; I come to do your will." Twice, the psalmist says, "waited"—"I have waited, waited for the LORD." God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me. Give me the grace today to recognize and accomplish your will.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 3:22-30)

"Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin."

Jesus summons the scribes to address a lie they have been telling about him. They say, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons." United in the Father and the Holy Spirit, Jesus does not participate in division but only eternal unity. A human kingdom has unity but also has factions so that within that unity division can exist. Divided from the unity of truth, a lie springs from the father of lies, the evil one, and is participation in everlasting sin. Jesus knows the intentions of the scribes and through divine wisdom exposes their lie. Jesus says all sins and blasphemies will be forgiven. "But," he says, "whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." Unity forged by the strongest human bonds will always fail; let the truth of God enter in to plunder and drive out division.

God, assist me by every good grace you can give me to recognize where division is so that you can bind it and make it useless. I don't want to live out of unity with you, yet that is where I tend in my inclination toward sin. Help me today in these two ways: by removing me from division and by letting you in. In my house, Lord, come with power to tie up and disable all that blocks your entrance. I don't want to participate in any lie that would keep you out, and I

depend on you for every good gift. Lord, you say, "Without me you can do nothing." Be my strength, Lord. Jesus, I trust in you!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: "The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21)

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."

On the sabbath and in the town of Nazareth, where Jesus had grown up, in the synagogue he reads from a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. After reading it, he says to those in the synagogue, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." In saying this, Jesus claims divine identity as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. Today's Gospel begins from the first chapter of Luke, in which he lays out his intention for writing it: just as many have written of the events Jesus fulfilled, Luke carefully investigates the events so that "you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received." As Jesus fulfills what we hear him read in the portion of the reading, he fulfills entirely all of it, as when Isaiah says Jesus was sent "To give them oil of gladness instead of mourning, a glorious mantle instead of a faint spirit." Jesus embodies the longing of the prophets; he is hope realized from every promise God fulfills.

God, strengthen my faith. Luke investigates the events of Jesus and retells them for that purpose. What I first received through faith, help me grow in the certainty of its teachings and be released from the bonds of doubt. Why does Luke retell what has been told but to share with one person, Theophilus, the entirety of the Gospel? In sharing that joy with one person, he shares with the whole world. Lord, give me the grace to see the words and actions of Jesus anew in Luke's Gospel. Help me see in him the fulfillment of all of your promises made throughout the history of salvation. In receiving the word, let me be firm in faith and tirelessly retell to one soul at a time what Jesus brought to fulfillment: "The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to the captives."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the Gospel acclamation: "For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 16:15-18)

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned."

As Jesus speaks to the apostles, he describes the signs that will accompany them. Those who have been baptized and believe, he tells them, will be able to accomplish supernatural works through the Holy Spirit. Called by the same Lord and sent out to proclaim the Gospel is Paul, who describes himself as one to whom the risen Christ appeared last of all; in Paul's words, "as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me." The story of the apostles and the story of Paul teach us something about the call to discipleship. Among those who are baptized, the call will come early or the call will come late. Like Paul, with our many gifts, we are a "chosen instrument," responding to the voice of Jesus who calls us to "get up and go" by proclaiming the Gospel.

God, help me throughout the day to consider the conversion of Saint Paul. He was literally knocked off his high horse, blinded by your light, and brought to wholeness through fasting and with the help of others. How familiar is the armor of self-preservation that keeps me moment by moment from receiving your grace. Yet, Jesus calls the apostles and Paul and all who hear his voice to put on the armor or Christ for a purpose the Gospel acclamation states perfectly: "I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord." Jesus chose the apostles from the world, from out of the world, and he chose Paul as "a chosen instrument of mine." Saint Paul, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Daily Reflection https://lectiodiv.com

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 3:1-6)

He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent.

In the synagogue on the sabbath, the Pharisees watch Jesus closely in order to trap him. Without saying a word, the Pharisees speak from their heart, but the words of Jesus silence them, just as he commands unclean spirits to be silent. Mark tells us that Jesus looked around at the Pharisees with anger and was grieved at their hardness of heart. After the silence, Jesus says one more thing: "Stretch out your hand." In the stillness that follows, Jesus restores the man's withered hand. The Pharisees sought a way to take the life of Jesus, stretching out their hand to the Herodians and hearing a legion of voices tell them that by destroying the Prince of Peace, peace will be restored. In the midst of the day, will we take time in silence to seek healing from the Lord, to hear the voice of Jesus say, "Stretch out your hand"?

God, help me reflect on these words of Jesus on this day of prayer for the legal protection of unborn children. Just as he spoke in tenderness to the man with the withered hand, he speaks to everyone who calls on his name and seeks to be restored to you through the power of the Holy Spirit. "Stretch out your hand," Jesus says, inviting us once again to be restored to the divine mercy of his Father—our Father—and the promise of eternal life as your children.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “He has sent deliverance to his people; he has ratified his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name. His praise endures forever. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 2:23-28)

At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?"

Jesus responds to the Pharisees who question the disciples of Jesus as they pick the heads of grain on the sabbath. The tension between the interpretation of the law that Jesus offers them and their own strict interpretation centers on their claim that it is unlawful to work on the sabbath. Jesus answers their question with a question, drawing on an example from David and his companions. Jesus goes on with a divine interpretation of the sabbath, one that reveals it not in rigid, legalistic framing but as a gift from God meant for the people. He says to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

God, let me see the gift you give me today in choosing to serve you in complete freedom. When I hear Jesus say, "Have you never read. . . ," I hear a kind of exasperation with the constant questioning and strictness of the Pharisees. You don't impose yourself, and obedience to your will is not oppressive. You see me in my needs and give me the freedom to choose to do what is good and pleasing to you. Just as David shared the bread of offering with his companions to satiate their hunger, help me see the hunger others have for your mercy and give to others what you first gave to me. Saint Agnes, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek. The LORD said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.'"

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 2:18-22)

Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day."

A day after we hear John's account of the Wedding at Cana, today's Gospel again presents Jesus as the bridegroom who delights in the guests at the wedding banquet. As long as Jesus is physically present, joy and fulfillment are given in abundance. But a time will come when he is "taken way" during his passion and death; then there will be fasting in the sorrow of his absence. The two parables Jesus shares—the new patch on the old garment and new wine poured into old wineskins—illustrate the new reality Jesus brings in his presence. The New Covenant cannot simply be imposed on or confined by the ways of the old covenant. The joy of the New Covenant is in Christ himself and the Church he establishes through perfect obedience to the Father.

God, help me participate fully in the joy and new life Jesus brings as your bridegroom. Strengthen my faith, especially in times of sorrow and guide me to live in the fullness of joy that comes from following Jesus Christ your Son. As Saint Paul says, "Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." By his example and through your grace, guide me in knowing and doing your will.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 2:13-17)

Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Jesus calls Levi (Matthew) to follow him. Matthew invites Jesus to dine at his house along with many tax collectors and sinners. When the Scribes and Pharisees see them dining together, they are critical of Jesus, questioning why he would eat with sinners. After Jesus hears their remarks, his response reveals the purpose of his mission and how he came to choose Matthew as one of the apostles: the sick need the Divine Physician, and Jesus calls sinners to him. Saint Paul recognizes the dependence we have on the grace and mercy Jesus offers when he says, "No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account."

Father in heaven, help me now and throughout the day receive your grace through Jesus Christ your Son. Let the words of Saint Paul remind me what it means to respond as Saint Matthew did on hearing the words "Follow me." It means that in approaching the throne of grace, I have the sympathy and compassion of Jesus. Give me the grace to do as Paul urges in saying, "So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help." Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of the Divine Physician, show me the way to your Son. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone.

Mark tells us that so many people came to see Jesus when he returned to Capernaum, that there was not enough room for them as they crowded around the home where he was staying. As he taught them, friends of a paralyzed man brought him to Jesus but were unable to get to Jesus because of the crowd. They resorted to climbing the roof, breaking through it, and lowering the man down on a mat. "When Jesus saw their faith," Mark tells us, "he said to him, 'Child, your sins are forgiven.'” Jesus knew what the scribes were thinking and responded to them, making clear that as the Son of God, he is able to heal the sick and forgive sins. The miracle takes place before astounded witnesses who glorify God and say, “We have never seen anything like this.”

From the responsorial psalm: “Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1:40-45)

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

The man with leprosy who comes to Jesus and drops to his knees says, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus tells him, "I to will it. Be made clean." He is healed immediately, and Jesus tells him not to tell anybody, but the man tells everybody he knows. Word of Jesus spreads, and it is impossible for him to go anywhere unrecognized. He remains outside of towns in deserted places, yet people come to him from everywhere for his healing. By the time Saint Paul writes the Letter to the Hebrews, the risen Jesus is present in the "today" of people's lives and until he comes again. "We have become partners of Christ," Paul says, "if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end."

God, work with me today as I call to mind that one and all come to Jesus for healing and wholeness. They come as unrepeatable, unique people and as a people who seek to see the face of God and drop to their knees, presenting every need imaginable. Help me, Lord, come to you first for everything today, if only by saying your name and bringing you into the midst of everything I do. "And people kept coming to him from everywhere." Why is that? Jesus, I trust in you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1:29-39)

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Mark describes a series of events in the early ministry of Jesus. After leaving the synagogue where he taught and exorcised a man with an unclean spirit, Jesus goes to the house of Simon and Andrew and heals Simon's mother-in-law, who lays sick with a fever. That same evening, people come to Jesus, and he cures them of their illnesses and casts out demons of those who are possessed. The next morning before dawn he rises and goes off to pray, and Simon and the others find him and tell him that everyone is looking for him. "So he went into their synagogues," Mark tells us, "preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee." In his compassion, Jesus acts as both healer and teacher in his mission to bring salvation and hope to humanity. He continues to do that today.

God, help me trust in your mercy and take comfort in Jesus' saving mission as I consider the words of Saint Paul: "Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested." Through the mystery of suffering, let me learn my complete dependence on you for all that is good. Let my weaknesses be a means of giving glory to you, Lord, who through your Son destroyed death. "Look to the LORD in his strength," the psalmist prays, "seek to serve him constantly." Grasp me by the hand and help me always be mindful of doing your will.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “O LORD, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1:21-28)

The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

Mark describes a key event in the early ministry of Jesus as he reveals his divine authority in the synagogue at Capernaum by teaching and by casting out an unclean spirit. Mark describes Jesus' teaching and its effect four separate times in this short passage: "The people were astonished at his teaching"; "he entered the synagogue and taught:"; "he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes"; and, "A new teaching with authority." The interrelationship between teaching and his exorcism of the unclean spirit demonstrates that the power of Jesus is present in his words and actions. As the Son of God, the Word made flesh in the person of Christ, Jesus makes known the truth of the Father in life-giving words and redemptive actions.

God, you are present every moment of every day in the teachings of Jesus and in the sacraments as the Word made flesh. The astonishment of the people in the synagogue is my astonishment, at hand today. It is even a more present reality in the Church, the Body of Christ, and in the sacraments Jesus instituted during his earthly ministry. How can I not be astonished as I give thanks for the sacraments that are at their roots, as the Catechism teaches, from the actions and teachings of Jesus. The unclean spirit cries out, "I know who you are—the Holy One of God." In naming you, Lord, the Evil One has no power but is instead driven out to "prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls." Let the Gospel acclamation teach me today: "Receive the word of God not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad. Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. Let all his angels worship him."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1:14-20)

Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

Mark relates in just a few words the beginning of Jesus' public ministry as he picks up the proclamation of the Gospel after John is arrested. Sounding very much like John, Jesus says, "The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” But he says something else, which foreshadows his earthly ministry. "This is the time of fulfillment." It is with this authority that Jesus calls the first disciples to follow him. And they do. Immediately, they leave their nets behind—the ones they are casting and the ones they are mending. Jesus calls them from the midst of their work; they hear his voice and obey. In what ways—in the midst of the work week—how attentively will we listen out for the voice of the Lord?

Father in heaven, you sent Jesus to proclaim your kingdom and to bring hope and salvation to all people. Like Simon and Andrew and James and John, let me be attentive to your call and follow you at work and at rest. This is your Son, the one you love and in whom you are well pleased. Give me the grace, Lord, to see the love between you and your Son and the invitation by the Son to imitate him in perfectly accomplishing your will. Lord, let me hear and follow as you ask me to come after you. Jesus, I trust in you!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “The voice of the LORD is over the waters, the LORD, over vast waters. The voice of the LORD is mighty; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The Lord will bless his people with peace."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22)

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The people are filled with excitement and expectation about John the Baptist and asking themselves if he might be the Messiah. John responds by making clear that his baptism is with water but that there is one mightier coming after him who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. After being baptized by John and as Jesus is praying, the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descends upon him in a form like a dove. The voice from heaven is that of the Father who is well pleased in his beloved Son. In the second reading, we hear that God anointed his Son with the Holy Spirit and power. And as prophesied by Isaiah, the LORD is well pleased in his servant, Jesus, the incarnation of the New Covenant. "I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand."

God, help me throughout the day be aware that you are present as I dwell on the baptism of your only begotten Son. In meditating on your love for Jesus, I think also of the love Zechariah had for his son John, who says of him in his canticle: "You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High." In the powerful, affirming love of a father for a son is a glimpse of your filial love for us as your children. Christ accomplished in his baptism the forgiveness of our sins and the way to eternal life as your sons and daughters. In calling your Son for the victory of justice, you have freed us and opened the heavens so that we always give to you the glory due your name. "Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; Let the high praises of God be in their throats. This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. The Lord takes delight in his people."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 3:22-30)

John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ, but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

As Jesus baptizes with his disciples in the region of Judea, the disciples of John the Baptist tell him that Jesus is baptizing and that everyone is coming to him. John replies to them with great humility, bringing to unity his followers and the followers of Jesus. John recognizes in Jesus the fulfillment of his role as the "best man," the one who would prepare the way of the Lord. He delights in it. "So this joy of mine has been made complete." At the heart of his joy is giving glory to the Lord. "He must increase; I must decrease."

God, help me follow the example of John's humility in attributing every good gift to you. In receiving what you gave him, John made the way to Jesus clear to all who heard him. Give me the grace today to respond to the vocation and purpose you gave me. As the Catechism makes clear about human freedom and cooperation with your grace, let me understand what you have called me to. It says: "All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity." Just as John understood that as Jesus increased, he must decrease, give me wisdom to discern how to bring about the fullness and perfection of your will, the source of every good gift.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

FREE PRAYER GUIDE: Lectio Divina https://quarryapps.gumroad.com/l/jojqau Lectio Divina: A Journey into God’s Word.

Under "Name a fair price" enter $0. It's totally free!

From the responsorial psalm: “From fraud and violence he shall redeem them, and precious shall their blood be in his sight. May they be prayed for continually; day by day shall they bless him. R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 4:14-22)

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

In the town where he grew up, Jesus goes according to his custom to the synagogue on the sabbath and there begins his public ministry. He fulfills the scripture passage of Isaiah. The Spirit of the Lord is upon him; he is anointed to bring hope to the poor; he is sent to bring liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, "and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." Perfectly accomplishing the will of the Father as the Messiah, Jesus does all of this and invites us to be sons and daughters in his mission of loving and serving one another with the love of the Father who, as John said, loved us first. Today, in our earthly lives, we can ask how we live out the values of the kingdom of God.

God, help me understand that it was the Messiah, Jesus Christ your Son, who said in the synagogue, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” John said, "Beloved, we love God because he first loved us." I know, Lord, you call me to obey your commandments by loving others, freeing them, and bringing God-centered gladness and sightedness to fellow sinners. Let me hold on to the importance of this when loving others is difficult. But let me take to heart that you loved me first, and that any good I accomplish will come from that gift you give to me. It is you, Lord, who liberate and free me to receive and give away your love to others. "O God," the psalmist sings, "with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6:45-52)

But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.

Taking place immediately after the Feeding of the Five Thousand, the account of Jesus walking on water emphasizes that the apostles did not yet understand the divinity of Jesus. Mark ends the passage with this declaration about his closest followers: "They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened." Although they had witnessed a miracle during the day, their hearts remained in the dark, haunted by looming fears. At this moment, Jesus appears to them, in the fourth watch of the night, between darkest night and first light. Calming the wind and the hearts of the apostles, Jesus encourages them and replaces fear with hope and unbelief with belief.

God, as a new day begins, help me take on its challenges and anxieties with courage and trust in Jesus. Mark says that as the wind was against the apostles, Jesus came walking toward them and got into the boat with them. No great leap of imagination is needed to see that Jesus is in the boat today in the Church and in the sacraments. And Jesus is present in the people I will meet today. "Yet, if we love one another," John says, "God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us." Lord, let me take heart in your presence today and trust in your mercy; take pity on me and rescue me. Jesus, I trust in you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD said to me, 'You are my Son; this day I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.'" I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 6:34-44)

Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied.

Late in the day, Jesus sees the vast crowd following him like sheep without a shepherd. Moved with pity for them, he begins teaching them when the disciples approach him and ask Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they can go to nearby villages to find something to eat. He tells them, "Give them some food yourselves." When the disciples tell him that it would be impossible to buy the amount of food needed, Jesus asks how many loaves there are. Taking the five loaves they give him, Jesus prays, says a blessing, and breaks the loaves and fishes. At this, Mark simply says, "They all ate and were satisfied." After they ate, the disciples picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments from the crowd of five thousand. Why does Jesus tell the disciples to give the crowd some food themselves? It seems in that question, he is teaching the disciples to rely not on themselves but on the word of God, as we hear in the Gospel according to John, when he says, "I have food to eat of which you do not know."

God, help me understand the motivation of Jesus when he sees the crowd and feels great compassion for them. Why is it that the way Jesus first feeds the crowd is by teaching them many things? The disciples see the practical need; it is getting dark and the people need to go find food. Jesus sees the spiritual need that goes beyond physical hunger. Satisfying the hunger of the crowd takes place as the Son of God blesses the food and looks to you in prayer. In his word, just as in his crucifixion, what is broken is not divided and diminished but multiplied and increased in superabundance. Give me the grace, Lord, to trust in the food that you give for the life of the world in Jesus Christ your Son. Give us this day our daily bread.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD said to me, 'You are my Son; this day I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.'" I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 4:12-17, 23-25)

His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them.

"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." With these words, Jesus picks up where John left off after he had been arrested. The mission of Jesus begins to unfold in Galilee as he teaches in the synagogues, proclaims the kingdom of God, and cures every disease and illness. In doing this, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: "Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen." And the light he brings is healing to those whose illnesses are physical, mental, and spiritual. He continues to do that today.

God, give me the grace and wisdom to do as great crowds did in following Jesus. The Gospel acclamation says, "Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people." Strengthen my faith, Lord. Nourish me through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, where you are truly present—body and blood, soul and divinity. Be my light in the darkness, and throughout the day let me trust in your merciful care and power to heal mind, body, and soul.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

From the responsorial psalm: “For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 2:1-12)

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

BLOG: https://lectiodiv.wordpress.com

From the responsorial psalm: “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 1:29-34)

John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."

John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God. At his appearance, John states the mission and identity of Jesus so that he is made known to Israel, and as John testifies, that he is proclaimed as the Son of God. Although a cousin to Jesus, John says "I did not know him." Trusting God, the one who sent him, John recognizes Jesus not from human senses but from divine revelation as the Holy Spirit descends and remains on Jesus. . . . [more]

From the responsorial psalm: “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 1:19-28)

John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing."

Today's Gospel begins with priests and Levites questioning John the Baptist about his identity. John denies that he is the Christ or Elijah. When they ask him if he is the Prophet, he says no, and they then ask him who he is so they can share the answer with those who sent them. John replies, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert . . . .