Faith Daily | 12 January 2021
PRAYER of the WEEK Baptism of the Lord
Almighty God,
who anointed Jesus at his baptism with the Holy Spirit
and revealed him as your beloved Son:
inspire us, your children,
who are born again of water and the Spirit,
to surrender our lives to your service,
that we may rejoice to be called your children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
GOSPEL for the Day: Mark 1: 21-28
21They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and 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.” 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Marianne Esposito
2021’s first week has been completed and yes I need the Jesus of the Bible to teach me and to guide me with His calm authority more than ever. There are many ‘unclean spirits’ at work in this broken world of ours and I need to be following Jesus – ‘the Holy One of God’ as he rebukes and commands them to leave and models how I too can live these many years later.
Ron and I have been reading the daily devotional book ‘Every Day with Jesus’ [waverleyabbeyresourses.org] for many years and continue to be inspired, challenged, chastened, encouraged and blessed. As I write this reflection on Friday 8th January – it is entitled ‘Courage’ with the Scripture, Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Very appropriate and encouraging for this day when a 3 day total COVID lockdown of our Brisbane area has been declared from 6pm tonight.
I share also the January 4th devotional based on Romans 13:11, that suggests to begin the day by pausing to light a candle (for me it will be a ‘visual’ lighting) and say the simple prayer:
FINAL PRAYER: from Meredith
May this candle be a light for you to enlighten me in my difficulties and decisions.
May it be a fire for you Lord to burn out of me all pride, selfishness and impurity.
May it be a flame for you to bring warmth into my heart; warmth towards my family, my neighbours and all whom I meet.
May I become the God hearth in the life of my community bringing welcome and warmth to friend and stranger alike.
Help me to continue my prayer in everything I do this day.
Through the grace, mercy and safekeeping of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen