Daily Reflection – Jan 22, 2016
Friday 22 January 2016
First Reading: 1 Samuel 24:3-21
Responsorial Psalm:
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy
Psalm 56(57):2-4, 6, 11
Gospel Reading: Mark 3:13-19
Today’s Note: Day of penance
Today’s Saint: St Vincent Pallotti
Gospel Reading:
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Reflection:
The Call
Just like the twelve apostles God calls each one of us by name. This call means we too must climb up the mountain in response to Jesus’ call and trust in the providence of God. ‘God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.’
Temptation is something that rattles us and we must be alert, patient and faithful to resist its allure. We should all be mindful that if people wrong us, God will right us and His mercy will guide us.
David gives us practical proof of his faith in God, by showing that he appealed to Him at his moment of crisis. When we place our trust in God we let go and surrender to His love and will.
Jesus prayed all night, and the following day he called the disciples. The Lord invites ordinary people, like us, for the betterment of his kingdom. In this way, Jesus tries to maintain a two-fold objective of the call: to be with Him and to go on mission.
