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.’
Responsorial Psalm 131(132):6-10
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.
____________________________________________
Jesus is here
In today’s Gospel, crowds and crowds of people hurry to see Jesus and to be with Him. People from all walks of life gather around Him, each with their own intentions. Some are desperately seeking healing for their own sickness, while others bring along sick friends and family members, hoping that Jesus will touch and heal them. There are also some who are simply curious, driven by a desire to meet this man known as “Jesus”. No matter their reasons for coming, Jesus welcomes each person without hesitation. His compassionate heart draws Him to stay with them.
As we enter this time of prayer, let us take a moment to draw near to Jesus and invite Him to touch our lives. Many of us may carry feelings of loneliness, worry, fear and anxiety in our hearts. In these moments, we can turn to Him, allowing His peace to flow into us and calming us. His love embraces us, offering the strength we need to journey through the challenges of life. Just as the crowds recognise Jesus and seek His presence, may we also open our eyes of faith and become aware of His unwavering presence of love surrounding us today.
Reflective question:
How can I deepen my faith in and relationship with Jesus?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
