Daily Gospel Reflection

Rediscover True North

Welcome back to Radical and Relevant where we're exploring the genius of Jesus in the Daily Gospel. Remember each day we're looking for a word or a phrase or an idea, just one, to hold onto, to ponder throughout our day. Today's reading comes from the Gospel of Mark 1: 12-15. The Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness and he was in the wilderness 40 days, tempted by Satan, and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. Now, after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God and saying, "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel." So there's that word, repent. See it often throughout the gospel. See it, particularly during the season of Lent leading up to Holy Week each year. What does it mean? It means to turn back to God. And it's amazing how we can turn away from God by degrees. It's not that we turn our back completely on God. It's not that we reject God completely but it's easy to turn away from God by degrees. It's easy to turn away from God in a little thing. And then, of course, if we turn away from God in many little things then we can find ourselves disoriented. Why? Because we turn away from God. We get disoriented. We lose track of which way is north and which way is true north.

And so to ask ourselves today, how do we turn away from God in little ways? And to hear the call of repentance, not necessarily as a huge thing. It can be at some times in our lives and it may need to be that at this time in your life. But it may be these micro repentances, these micro turning back to God when we feel tempted to turn away from God can have a very powerful effect in aligning us with God, in aligning us with the will of God, and aligning us with the best version of ourselves. Have an amazing day. God bless you. And don't just be yourself today. Be the very best version of yourself. All that God created you to be. Be bold and be Catholic.