Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together

Sunday, 8 February 2026

THE NEED TO EXPERIENCE THE HEALING TOUCH OF GOD

20260209 THE NEED TO EXPERIENCE THE HEALING TOUCH OF GOD

09 February 2026, Monday, 5th Week in Ordinary Time

First reading

1 Kings 8:1-7,9-13

The Ark of the Covenant is brought into the Temple

Solomon called the elders of Israel together in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord up from the Citadel of David, which is Zion. All the men of Israel assembled round King Solomon in the month of Ethanim, at the time of the feast (that is, the seventh month), and the priests took up the ark and the Tent of Meeting with all the sacred vessels that were in it. In the presence of the ark, King Solomon and all Israel sacrificed sheep and oxen, countless, innumerable. The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the Debir of the Temple, that is, in the Holy of Holies, under the cherubs’ wings. For there where the ark was placed the cherubs spread out their wings and sheltered the ark and its shafts. There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses had placed in it at Horeb, the tablets of the covenant which the Lord had made with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt; they are still there today.

Now when the priests came out of the sanctuary, the cloud filled the Temple of the Lord, and because of the cloud the priests could no longer perform their duties: the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s Temple.

Then Solomon said:

‘The Lord has chosen to dwell in the thick cloud.

Yes, I have built you a dwelling,

a place for you to live in for ever.’

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 131(132):6-10

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest!

At Ephrata we heard of the ark;

we found it in the plains of Yearim.

‘Let us go to the place of his dwelling;

let us go to kneel at his footstool.’

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest!

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest,

you and the ark of your strength.

Your priests shall be clothed with holiness;

your faithful shall ring out their joy.

For the sake of David your servant

do not reject your anointed.

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest!

Gospel Acclamation

Jn8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

Or:

cf.Mt4:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom

and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Mark 6:53-56

All those who touched him were cured

Having made the crossing, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up. No sooner had they stepped out of the boat than people recognised him, and started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, to village, or town, or farm, they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging him to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were cured.

THE NEED TO EXPERIENCE THE HEALING TOUCH OF GOD

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 KGS 8:1-7, 9-13; MK 6:53-56]

In the Gospel, we read that wherever Jesus went– “to village, or town, or farm, they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were cured.” Clearly, this shows a fundamental human need. We are not pure spirits but embodied spirits. It is therefore natural for us to desire to be touched and loved, as this is our human way of experiencing spiritual love.

We would miss the full dimension of Jesus’ healing ministry if we ignored that He mediated the power and healing grace of God through His humanity. We read, “No sooner had they stepped out of the boat than people recognised him, and started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was.” Jesus could have healed them from afar, yet He chose to touch them, letting them know that they are loved and that God is healing them. This is why the psalmist prays, “Let me see your face, O Lord, and I will live!” or “Redeem me by your love.”

Similarly, in the first reading, we hear of King Solomon calling “The elders of Israel together in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord up from the Citadel of David, which is Zion.” For the Israelites, the Ark of the Covenant symbolised the presence of God. They believed the Lord had chosen to dwell in Jerusalem, especially in the Ark, as Solomon said, “The Lord has chosen to dwell in the thick cloud. Yes, I have built you a dwelling, a place for you to live forever.”

But knowing that God was present in the Ark was not enough; they also felt the need to express their adoration and love through worship and sacrifices. “In the presence of the ark, King Solomon and all Israel sacrificed sheep and oxen, countless, innumerable. The priest brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the Debir of the Temple, that is, in the Holy of Holies under the cherubs’ wings.” In the Old Testament, God made it clear that He does not need our sacrifices. Yet the Israelites offered them, because expressing love is innate to humanity. We do not feel complete until that love is expressed bodily or in a tangible manner. By so doing, we achieve a unity of body and spirit in worship, exemplifying the love of God in a real way.

Furthermore, we read, “When the priests came out of the sanctuary, the cloud filled the Temple of the Lord, and because of the cloud the priests could no longer perform their duties: the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s Temple.” Many who encounter God’s love experience physical manifestations, whether tears, warmth, peace, or joy. We should therefore be open to these personal encounters with the Lord.

Unfortunately, in the history of spirituality, there has always been the attempt to strip away the incarnate dimension of Jesus’ ministry by reducing faith to pure intellect. Today, those who seek the incarnate Lord through sacramentals–holy water, statues, images–may be dismissed as superstitious, as if their faith was of secondary importance to popular religiosity. Intellectuals often disdain devotional expressions or the need to express a love for God through signs, symbols and bodily gestures. Some even struggle to show external reverence through bowing, kneeling, or prostrating before the Eucharist.

This regrettable reductionism of the understanding of an integral faith is the result of secularisation and technology. In a world where knowledge and power, science and technology are celebrated, we have become a soulless society. Rationalism has resulted in a cerebral faith that engages the intellect in theological discussions without ever leading to prayer, which calls for a relationship with God. A non-experiential faith results in a faith without fervour or passion.

Some justify neglecting the bodily dimension of faith by citing Jesus’ call to pray in spirit and in truth. But it would be a misunderstanding to pray only with the mind, excluding heart and body. Rather, we must pray in the Spirit of Christ, in accordance with truths revealed to us through Him about the nature of God and who we are. The sincerity of our prayers matters most, and this does not exclude external forms of worship. Otherwise, why does the Church use signs, symbols, and bodily gestures in her liturgy?

The readings call us to go beyond simply worshipping God in a sacramental way. We are to become channels of God’s love to others through our humanity. How do we bring Christ to others today, if not through words of encouragement, forgiveness, hospitality, compassion, and generosity? Most of all, the human touch communicates more than words can. For it to be truly effective, it must be free from self-interest. Let us be the presence of God to others through our words, actions, and above all, through the human touch.

Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections

Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.

Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.

Saturday, 7 February 2026

BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN CHURCH AND IN SOCIETY

20260208 BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN CHURCH AND IN SOCIETY

08 February 2026, Sunday, 5th Week in Ordinary Time

First reading

Isaiah 58:7-10

Then will your light shine like the dawn

Thus says the Lord:

Share your bread with the hungry,

and shelter the homeless poor,

clothe the man you see to be naked

and do not turn from your own kin.

Then will your light shine like the dawn

and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you

and the glory of the Lord behind you.

Cry, and the Lord will answer;

call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

If you do away with the yoke,

the clenched fist, the wicked word,

if you give your bread to the hungry,

and relief to the oppressed,

your light will rise in the darkness,

and your shadows become like noon.

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 111(112):4-9

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

Alleluia!

He is a light in the darkness for the upright:

he is generous, merciful and just.

The good man takes pity and lends,

he conducts his affairs with honour.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

Alleluia!

The just man will never waver:

he will be remembered for ever.

He has no fear of evil news;

with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

Alleluia!

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;

open-handed, he gives to the poor;

his justice stands firm for ever.

His head will be raised in glory.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

Alleluia!

Second reading

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

The only knowledge I claimed was of the crucified Christ

When I came to you, brothers, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 5:13-16

Your light must shine in the sight of men

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN CHURCH AND IN SOCIETY

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Isa 58:7-10; Ps 112:4-9; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16]

As Christians, how do we conduct ourselves in society? What is the identity and character of a Christian, and what is his relationship to the world? Today, in a world that emphasises inclusivity, there is a tendency not to stress our religious identity too strongly. We are often called to act and conduct ourselves like the rest of the world; otherwise, we risk being seen as disruptive and not inclusive. We are urged to adapt to the prevailing culture of the day, the lifestyles promoted by the media, and the values of the secular world. Furthermore, in the name of inclusivity, there are fewer and fewer schools managed by religious organisations, and even Catholic institutions serving the public often keep their religious identity hidden so that more people may make use of their services and assistance. So much so that many Catholics, in their public life, behave like secret agents of the Roman Catholic Church, fearful of allowing others to know their faith, as if being Catholic were a crime.

Yet, the message of Jesus in today’s Gospel is clear. There should be no diluted disciples or invisible disciples. We are called to make our presence felt in the world so that the Church may draw and attract people to accept the Gospel. If we are no different and have nothing to offer beyond what the world already provides, why should anyone be concerned about Christ and the Gospel? The Church’s mission is not simply to proselytise and increase the number of the baptised, but to make converts into disciples of our Lord. Our task is to proclaim the Good News so that others may become the Good News of our Lord in the world, attracting people by their way of life, their faith, and their values. Thus, we are called to be different–not in order to draw attention to ourselves, but so that others may be drawn to our Lord.

Hence, right from the start, the Lord reminds us of our identity when He says, “You are the salt of the earth.” The first property of salt is its whiteness and purity. We are called to keep ourselves uncontaminated by the individualistic and materialistic values of the world. Indeed, more and more Christians are lowering their standards to meet those of the world, compromising even on fundamental values such as the biblical understanding of sexuality, gender, marriage, family, and the dignity of human life from the moment of conception until death. Christians cannot afford to compromise their integrity or the consistency of a life lived according to the teachings of the Bible by lowering moral standards in honesty, work, or lifestyle. We must strive to be pure in thought, word, and deed.

The second property of salt is its ability to bring out the fullness of what is seasoned. Without salt, food can be bland, tasteless, and unexciting. As Christians, therefore, we are called to live in such a way that we make a positive contribution to society and exert a wholesome influence on others. We must present the Gospel in a way that is attractive and meaningful, showing that it leads to authentic happiness, love, and freedom. When the Gospel is proclaimed half-heartedly and without passion, it neither inspires nor transforms lives; instead, it becomes an irritation, perceived as indoctrination or proselytisation rather than truly good news that enriches life. To be the salt of the earth means that we are useful and of genuine worth to humanity.

The third property of salt is its preservative power. We use salt to prevent things from becoming bad. In those days, when there were no refrigerators, salt was the best way to preserve food and keep it fresh. Thus, salt preserves food from corruption. As Christians, therefore, we must act as an antiseptic in a world that is often corrupt. We must be careful not to compromise our standards or relax our values; otherwise, we ourselves will become contaminated. Rather, we are called to be an antiseptic presence in a society that is prone to evil and selfishness.

Finally, Jesus warns us not to lose our saltiness. “But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.” When we become insipid, the world will ignore us. When we lose our distinctive flavour in society, we lose our worth as well. Instead, we must allow the world to discover the joy of the Gospel, so that we may remain joyful even in times of trial.

The identity and role of a Christian are defined not only by being the salt of the earth but also by being the light of the world. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lampstand where it shines for everyone in the house.” It is clear that the light we possess is not our own but is received from our Lord. We do not produce this light ourselves; rather, we shine the light of Christ for all to see. A Christian is one who has received the light of Christ and reflects that light in the world, making it visible to all. He does not hide the Good News or his identity as a child of God, but allows the world to see his life, his faith, and his love for humanity. Only one who is filled with the light of Christ, and with His love and mercy, can truly shine that light.

This is why the Lord said, “In the same way, your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.” Good works do not spring from ourselves but from the love of Christ dwelling within us. Our faith is expressed through good works. Therefore, the works we do are not meant to draw attention to ourselves or glorify us, but to lead others to God, because they see Christ in us. Whatever we do, our intention must be clear: we are Christ’s ambassadors. Like John the Baptist, who said, “The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn 3:29f).

The purpose of light is to guide and to show the way. We must therefore be examples of authentic living and mercy. We need the moral strength to explain to others why we believe in Christ and uphold the moral teachings of the Church. Unless we are clear about our convictions and our stance in life, we cannot be that light which leads others along the right path. At times, being light also means warning those who walk in darkness. We are called to be a warning light, so that others will not fall into the ditch through blindness.

To be the light of Christ is to reveal the Father’s work in our lives. This is what the first reading reminds us. God spoke to the Israelites who were externally faithful to Temple worship but lacked integrity and charity in their daily lives: “Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor; clothe the one you see to be naked and turn not from your own kin. Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.” This is how the light of Christ shines through our lives as well. When others see us loving our enemies and serving the poor and needy regardless of race, language, or religion, they will see the face of Christ in us. When we are patient, kind, forgiving, generous, and truthful, they will come to understand how the Gospel liberates and gives life.

Truly, our Christian identity must be visible. As it has been said, “There can be no such thing as secret discipleship, for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy.” We are called to live our faith not only within the Church but also beyond it–in our offices, restaurants, public places, and public life. The Lord warns us, “Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Lk 9:26). We are to be light not only in our homes or parish communities, but to the whole world, wherever we may be.

The most beautiful thing about being the light of Christ is that the more we illuminate the lives of others, the brighter we ourselves become. By giving away the light, our faith is strengthened and renewed. The more we speak about Jesus and share our lives, the more conscious we become of our Christian identity and our ability to make a difference in the lives of others. This is the secret of St Paul’s joy and happiness in his mission. Like a true saint, he allowed God to work through him, as he said: “Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great fear and trembling, and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit.” A saint is one through whom Christ shines. Let us strive to be such Christians–saints for Christ and for the world.

Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections

Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.

Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.