Thursday 19 January 2023

Today is Thursday the 19th of January, in the second week of Ordinary time.

Maximillian sings, ‘Learning to love like You’. As you prepare to reflect on Jesus’ ministry today, notice what you are carrying with you as you begin this time of prayer…


Rest your bruised and broken feet
On my head
You've conquered this heart
O my Jesus
Rest your bruised and broken feet
On my head
As I bow
I'm learning to love like you
I'm learning to love like you
I'm learning to love like you
I'm learning to love like you
I'm learning to love like you
I'm learning to love like you

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.


Mark 3:7-12

Jesus departed with his disciples to the lake, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.

In this passage we see the response to Jesus’ Galilean ministry. A celebration worthy of a superstar. Despite the criticism of the leaders, the ordinary folk are called to Jesus’ presence, to his teaching. There are many communities where people will gather in great numbers to call on and to praise God. Do you have an experience of this?


How do you see Jesus’ response to the crowds, the faithful, the curious, the unclean spirits?

As you hear the passage again, consider your response to today’s reading…


Try talking to Jesus now about the thoughts and feelings that it has prompted 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.