Daily Reflection for Friday, February 04 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/020422.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Sirach 47:2-11
Responsorial: Psalm 18:31, 47 and 50, 51
Gospel: Mark 6:14-29
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
“As a youth he struck down the giant and wiped out the people’s disgrace; his hand let fly the slingstone
that shattered the pride of Goliath. Sirach 47:4.
The power of the youth is shown in the Bible. David, a young boy, fought and won the fight over Goliath. David accomplished this because he set his heart to God.
Our daughter Christy was in her youth—a high school junior on the girls’ traveling softball team in California. She was a young, talented player who always played hard to support her team. Even though Christy was terrified in her story, she managed to look calm and cool. Now, Christy’s story of a challenging, frustrating day playing softball:
“At a softball tournament in Reno in 90 degree weather, I was terrified at bat. The other team was a tournament juggernaut with a pitcher who was throwing fire, 60-65 mph. We were being picked off one at a time without even seeing first base. I had watched six of my teammates go down swinging or looking.
Coach was frustrated! I was terrified! I was no match for this pitcher. I had my sliding pad pulled up over my knee, just in case by some miracle, I managed to get on base. I looked nervously at Coach for my sign. He had his arms crossed. As far as our team was concerned, this game was likely over.
Coach gave a sign—swing, bunt, whatever—just try to get on base. I figured that the best I could hope for was, maybe, a walk. Not only did this girl have a lightning fastball, but she was laser accurate.
The familiar clang of softball on aluminum bat rang out. I had a fraction of a second to see the ball disappearing in a line drive, scant inches above the pitcher’s head—close enough to send her ducking. It was the kind of hit where you don’t even feel the impact of the bat against your hands. The ball went straight over second base and into a gap between the outfielders. I looked at Coach with a big grin on my face. Coach waved his hands wildly in the air and shouted to second base, ‘I knew you could do it!! I told you this girl was hittable!’ After that, we all were hitting. We won that game!”
Reading about David and Goliath and reading Christy’s story invites many questions. What lessons in leadership do we learn from Christy’s story? Do we learn courage from the story of David and Goliath? Do we believe the scripture, “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me?” (Philippians 4:13) Why was an entire softball team intimated by one girl? Why did Christy, feeling terrified, rise to the challenge? Do things happen this way to help us to rise up to our many challenges in life?
Dear God, may we recognize and acknowledge You in our talents and ask for courage to face challenges. Help us to persevere, have faith in You, and not give up.
Blessings to All,
Dorothy and Carlos Alexander