Daily Reflection for Friday, February 11 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners!
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021122.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 1 Kings 11:29-32; 12-19
Responsorial: Psalms 81:10-11ab, 12-13, 14-15
Gospel: Mark 7:31-37
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
“So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts; they walked according to their own counsel.” Psalm 81:13
I live my life, hour by hour, day by day, generally believing that I am in control and that I can figure things out. I generally trust my own judgment in most areas of my life. This belief that I hold has been reinforced throughout my life as I think I have made pretty good choices along the way and the result has been a comfortable, most-of-the-time happy existence.
But when I stop and think about my life, with honest and clear reflection, most of the good that I have enjoyed in my life thus far is the result of circumstances that I had nothing to do with. I did not choose my parents. I did not choose the socio-economic circumstances into which I was born. I did not create my own innate aptitudes and strengths. I did not select the teachers and other adults who had a profound influence on my childhood and young adult years. I did not create all the other good people whose paths have crossed mine, positively impacting my life over the years.
The great temptation with all these unearned circumstances is that I can come to believe that I had something to do with it. And if I allow myself to believe that I am where I am today because I did such a great job making the right choices, what’s to stop me from believing that I can continue to rely completely on my own good judgment and “counsel” going forward?
This is what God was saying to His people in today’s Psalm. This is what He is saying to me today. All that I have that is good was given to me through the grace of God. Yes, I can choose to make the most of those gifts and to multiply them as best I can, but I always need to remember the source of those benefits. My own “counsel” is only sound if it is grounded in prayer and listening for God’s voice.
May we all find space in our day today to listen for and heed God’s voice.
Peace and love,
Andra Liepa