Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Hebrews 2:14-18
Psalm 105:1-4,6-9
Mark 1:29-39

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today's first reading explains that Jesus did not help the angels, but rather us, the descendants of Abraham. To do so He became like us in every way.

There are probably endless ways the Father might have chosen to redeem us. For instance, Christ might have died as an infant at the hands of Herod with the Holy Innocents. Instead Christ lived His life among us, serving not only as our Savior, our Redeemer, but also as a role model for future Christians.

In the gospel we hear that Christ was up before dawn and off to a deserted place to pray. We see Him mingling among the sick and possessed, unafraid to touch and heal them. We hear of Christ moving around among the villages, always teaching and reaching out to others with love and concern.

Surely, the Son of God might have chosen a more luxurious, inactive lifestyle, and just allowed His demise at some point for our salvation, but that was not in His nature, nor can it be for us, His followers. There is much work to be done in building up the Kingdom of God. We struggle to find a balance between activity and getting our own needed rest; but before either, we turn like Christ to prayer in order that His will be done, not ours.

Thy Kingdom come!
Thy will be done!

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

____________________

These meditations are also available by email subscription
©1986-2005 The Way, The Truth, The Life

posted by joachim at 4:21 AM