Tuesday 10 January 2023

Today is Tuesday the 10th of January, in the first week of Ordinary time.

David Gungor with The Porter’s Gate sings, ‘Have Mercy On Me’.

The goodness of the Lord is the kindess of the Lord

with ev’ry breath we take, the gift of life and grace.
The power of the Lord is the meekness of the Lord
who bore humanity with brave humility.


Let Your mercy flow through us, Your mercy, Your mercy. (2x)


The beauty of the Lord is the suff’ring of the Lord,

is Christ upon a tree, stripped of dignity.
The glory of the Lord is the mercy of the Lord,
gives life for us to see a new humanity:


When they see us, may they see Your mercy, Your mercy.
When they know us, may they know Your mercy, Your mercy.

Bless the hands and feet of those who serve in need,
of the broken and ashamed
Bless the weary soul, the Lord will make us whole;
God, speak peace to those afraid!
May the words we speak build a bridge for peace—
Your lovingkindness shows the way!
Open up our doors, giving refuge for all the weary and afraid…


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.
Mark 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and 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.’But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! Hecommands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Here we watch Jesus as he begins his mission. What strikes you most about his ministry here?
Jesus is said to have “authority”; how do you experience this authority both in the passage, and in your own life?
Now listen as the story is read to you once more. What strikes you most as you listen to it?
Finally, reflect on all the thoughts and feelings that have come to you during this time, and see if you can turn them into a prayer to 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.