Jan 8 2025

First reading Hebrews 13:15-17,20-21

May God turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ

Through Christ, let us offer God an unending sacrifice of praise, a verbal sacrifice that is offered every time we acknowledge his name. Keep doing good works and sharing your resources, for these are sacrifices that please God.

Obey your leaders and do as they tell you, because they must give an account of the way they look after your souls; make this a joy for them to do, and not a grief – you yourselves would be the losers. I pray that the God of peace, who brought our Lord Jesus back from the dead to become the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood that sealed an eternal covenant, may make you ready to do his will in any kind of good action; and turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.

Responsorial Psalm 22(23): 1-6

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose.
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Gospel Mark 6:30-34

They were like sheep without a shepherd

The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.

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Attending to different needs

After returning from a mission, the apostles went back to report to Jesus all that they did in the different villages. He noticed how exhausted they were and asked them to retreat and rest so that they would recover their strength. However, the crowds saw them leaving and followed them. Rather than sending them away, Jesus looked at the people with compassion. He understood that they were lost, searching for meaning in their lives, and He started to preach to them about the Kingdom of God.

Today, Jesus does not ignore us, He continues to see our needs and is sensitive to the challenges we face every day, whether at home or at work. He knows when we need to rest peacefully in His presence and when we need His word to regain our strength in order to continue our faith journey. He is always ready to help us, we just need to open our hearts to His love.

Reflective question:
Do I call on God when I experience spiritual tiredness and loneliness?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.