Tuesday 1st
Scripture: Luke 2:15-21
Reflection:
Names are more than just titles, more than just words that are used to identify us. At their worst, names can label, marginalise and even exclude people. It is true that our “given” or “first“ names are usually bestowed on us by our parents at birth. Some people find these names sit easily with them, others do not like their names. How many people do you know who shorten, change the spelling, or indeed change their names altogether? Do you know why they have done this? Did those around them accept their decision?
Wednesday 2nd
Scripture: John 1:19-28
Reflection:
John knew what it was he had come to do, and who was yet to come. He called out, urging people to repent and be baptised. There must have been times when he was disheartened and perhaps saddened by the opposition he met. There are times when we also try to call out, and those around us do not hear, do not listen to, our voices. In these times, could you let John’s example be your guide?
Thursday 3rd
Scripture: John 1:29-34
Reflection:
Have another read of verse 33. John has been baptising without knowing who the Messiah was. He undertook his vocation on faith, he baptised in faith that one day he would see the “Son of God”. Would you be so diligent in the task? Would you instead seek some sort of guide, a timeline, some proof that what may happen - will? Perhaps when we think like this, we allow our faith to waver, to be sidetracked by a desire for some sort of human measurement? When we try to measure faith, we run the risk of convincing ourselves that we are failures? Remember God loves us, so how could we ever be failures!
Friday 4th
Scripture: John 1:35-42
Reflection:
Andrew, and the other of John’s disciples, spent an afternoon, (a relatively short period of time) with Jesus, before making their decision about him. Are we also so certain in our Christian journey? How long did it take you to decide that Jesus was the Messiah? Why?
Saturday 5th
Scripture: John 1:43-51
Reflection:
Nathanael was initially sceptical about Phillip’s claim. Is this also you experience? Did you doubt, be a sceptic at first? Nathanael changed because Jesus told him where he had been sitting. What, or who, changed your scepticism?
Sunday 6th
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
Reflection:
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gifts left by the Magi. What gifts do you have to leave with the Christ child?
Monday 7th
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
Reflection:
The Disciples had no doubt about who they had seen, and heard. They left all they had, and followed. It is probably true to say that not everyone can do this. Would you be able to? If so, have you? If not, what stopped you? In any case our commitment to a Gospel centred life, can take many forms. Have you found one that works for you?
Tuesday 8th
Scripture: Mark 6:34-44
Reflection:
Jesus, unexpectedly, fed the crowd. Did you notice that in verse 41, Mark says that he “looked to heaven” and then he blessed the bread? How many of us look to heaven first, not after or during our prayer, but first, before we take any action? I suspect most of us would pray and then look to heaven. What would happen if we did as Jesus did, and looked first?
Wednesday 9th
Scripture: Mark 6:45-52
Reflection:
It was their fear that made them call out to Jesus, as he walked on the water. It was when Jesus called back, and got into the boat that they, and the weather, calmed down. Think back, when you were last afraid, did you call out to Jesus? Did you stop when you thought he had not heard you? Why did you stop?
Thursday 10th
Scripture: Luke 4:14-22
Reflection:
Verse 21 has the bold claim made by Jesus in his hometown synagogue. Have you a similar bold experience? Sometime those closest to us, are the hardest to persuade that we are being true to our vocation. How did your listeners take your boldness? Would you do the same again? Why?
Friday 11th
Scripture: Luke 5:12-16
Reflection:
Time and time again we see the same pattern, the sick people come, they are healed and Jesus then withdraws to quiet places. If you were to follow a similar pattern in your life, what would it look like? Would there be/are there times for: work, for helping others and for quiet?
Saturday 12th
Scripture: John 3:22-30
Reflection:
John did not try to exceed his ministry. He stuck to what he knew he had been given and was content with that. Can the same be said for us? Do we rest secure in, and with, our vocations? Or do we strive to always push the boundaries. Do we want to go to places where perhaps God has not called us to go?
Sunday 13th
Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17
Reflection:
Baptism is the formalised rite marking our entry into Christian life. There are a wide variety of opinions and views on how, who, and when Baptism should be performed. Yet in spite of these differences, I suspect that all would agree that Baptism is a necessary part of the Christian faith journey. How would you explain Baptism to someone who was not a Christian? Would this explanation be based on what you were taught, or what you believe?
Monday 14th
Scripture: Mark 1:14-20
Reflection:
Jesus called and the brothers followed. They left all, and went. Would you also be so decisive? Or would you try to plan, delay, perhaps even ignore the call? Why?
Tuesday 15th
Scripture: Mark 1:21-28
Reflection:
The people were surprised with the authority Jesus taught with (verse 27). Can you recall the last time you were amazed on hearing a preacher/pastor, priest/minister etc, teach. What was it about their preaching you remember? Do you still remember their message? Why?
Wednesday 16th
Scripture: Mark 1:29-39
Reflection:
Jesus did not stay in one place. He moved around, spreading the message. While it may not be possible for most of us to be as mobile, we can still spread the good news of the gospel message. I’m sure we can all think of at least one method we would be comfortable using. But what if you were unable to leave your home, (and you had no internet access) how would you spread the gospel?
Thursday 17th
Scripture: Mark 1:40-45
Reflection:
Did the leper know what he was doing when he spread the news of his healing? Was he so overcome with joy that he could not help, but spread the message? How seriously did he take the “stern warning” from Jesus? Are we ever so overcome with joy about our faith that nothing can hold us back from spreading the news?
Friday 18th
Scripture: Mark 2:1-12
Reflection:
Imagine the consternation in the crowded room, when the mat appeared from the ceiling. The lame person was told to rise and walk. If you were the paralysed man, would you have objected to the course of action Why?
Saturday 19th
Scripture: Mark 2:13-17
Reflection:
Jesus ate with the people that “righteous” society rejected and reviled. He was happy to be seen with these marginalised people. Can the same be said for us? Are we seen with the outcast, the marginalised and the unwanted members of our society?
Sunday 20th
Scripture: John 1:29-42
Reflection:
John the Baptist pointed out Jesus to his disciples, and some of them (like Andrew) then followed Jesus. Someone in our faith journey did the same for us. Someone pointed us to, or told us about, the Christian gospel. We then followed. Can you recall who the "John the Baptist" person is in your life? Why did you listen to them?
Monday 21st
Scripture: Mark 2:18-22
Reflection:
The religious leaders were talking about the accepted religious traditions of their day. In reply Jesus spoke about joy, feasting, and the new way of following. When we first hear the gospel message our lives are filled with joy, enthusiasm and excitement. But we let that part of our journey languish, fade, become like an old wineskin. Is it perhaps time to re-capture the excitement of the new wine?
Tuesday 22nd
Scripture: Mark 2:23-28
Reflection:
Like the Pharisees, we can become bound to the religious law. We only see our view of the gospel message. When we do this, we enshrine the human devised rules, and we make the message of love unreachable. Then the people most in need of the message of love, become invisible. Perhaps it is time we make the message reachable, to make the invisible people seen again?
Wednesday 23rd
Scripture: Mark 3:1-6
Reflection:
Jesus was angry at the people who should have been acting with compassion, with understanding and with love. Would he also be angry with us today?
Thursday 24th
Scripture: Mark 3:7-12
Reflection:
Did the crowds come for the healing, or the message? The 'unclean spirits' knew who he was, but did the people? Who is Jesus to you?
Friday 25th
Scripture: Mark 3:13-19
Reflection:
Jesus selected those who would be closest to him. In this passage Mark gives us the list of names of the twelve. They would accompany Jesus. Do you?
Saturday 26th
Scripture: Mark 3:20-21
Reflection:
When people do not understand our desire to follow the gospel message, they are probably thinking like Jesus family. Is this also your experience? Did (or do) people doubt and question you? How did (do) you respond to their concerns?
Sunday 27th
Scripture: Matthew 4:12-25
Reflection:
What was it that caused the brothers to respond so completely to Jesus? Did they see, or experience, something that was unlike anything they had seen or heard before? Was it his physical presence? Do you know anyone who has responded to God, like the disciples did? Have you ever asked them why they went?
Monday 28th
Scripture: Mark 3:22-30
Reflection:
The world will always require a rational, sensible, explanation for the miraculous. To admit miracles are possible, will require an act of faith. A belief in the possibility of the divine, and today this possibility seems (all to often), to make the world uncomfortable. Yet the existence of the divine does not trouble people of faith. Do you believe miracles are possible? Is there a time when you experienced one?
Tuesday 29th
Scripture: Mark 3:31-35
Reflection:
In this passage Jesus extended his family. He moved those who acted upon his message from the outside, to the inside of his family. It was an act of immense compassion and love. And an action that sees us as part of God’s family. Yet with our inclusion comes a responsibility – we are to follow the message of the Gospel. Are you?
Wednesday 30th
Scripture: Mark 4:1-20
Reflection:
The sower knew that some of the seed would never produce fruit, that some seed would be wondrously bountiful, and all possible scenarios in between. Yet the sower continued the work of sowing. If we live our lives true to the faith, then some will see and want to know more, others will not. So even though we know some will not want to know more, this is no reason to stop living a gospel life.
Thursday 31st
Scripture: Mark 4:21-25
Reflection:
Placing a lamp on a lamp stand will illuminate. The light it casts, will banish the dark and the shadows and the surrounding area will be filled with radiance. Do you know where your lamp is? Is your lamp on a stand, or hidden> Why?
