Thursday 18 January 2024

Today is Thursday the 18th of January, in the second week of Ordinary time.


Juliano Ravanello sings, ‘Hosanna Filio David’. ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’.

Although normally sung on Palm Sunday, how could you use these words as a fresh welcome to the Lord today?

Hosanna Filio David
Benedictus qui venit
In nomine Domini
Rex Israel
Hosanna in excelsis


Hosanna to the Son of David
Blessed is He that cometh
In the name of the Lord
King of Israel
Hosanna in the highest




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.

As this prayer begins, try to picture yourself joining this “great multitude”, rushing down to the lakeside to see and hear this charismatic young preacher. What are you hoping for as you go?

The multitude are making this journey because they have already heard about all that Jesus has been doing. What do you think that they might have heard that draws them to Jesus? What draws you to him today?

Notice that this crowd isn’t simply made up of the good and the healthy, but includes the sick and the afflicted. What does this say to you about the words and deeds of this man whom so many want to be near?

As the passage is read again, see Jesus getting into the boat and preparing to speak. Where do you find yourself wanting to be in this crowd: near the front? Right in the middle? Or standing back, not wanting to be noticed or getting too involved?

In these last moments of prayer, let Jesus call you forward to be with him, and speak with him about what you need from him and what you want to offer him.

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.