Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time 329] Genesis 1:1-19 Psalm 104:1-2a, 5-6, 10+12, 24+35c Mark 6:53-56

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer Student Daily Reflection

When I read the readings for today, a song played in my head, like background music. American singer Louis Armstrong describes skies of blue or dark sacred skies, then sings, “What a wonderful world.” The first reading’s description of the first four days of creation is beautiful imagery and we, too, can reflect on the wonderful world we live in. We are so often bombarded by the all-too-present pain, misery and ugliness to thank God for what is good and beautiful in the world and in the people we see everyday. I do have faith that people are good and beautiful, but I also know that goodness must start with me in my every day thoughts and actions.

In the gospel, we get a glimpse of the faith of those who wanted to only touch the tassel on his cloak to be healed. We have that opportunity every day to believe, to give ourselves over to God and to be healed in our hearts. My faith has centuries behind it with tradition and history. The people who came to meet Jesus and the apostles at the boat dock, at the meeting place, at the mountain didn’t have that certainty. They just had faith.

As I reflect on the wonderful (yet a little snowy and cold here) world, I turn to the psalm. May the Lord be glad in his works. May the Lord be glad in me. Let me open my heart to the healing power of love and faith. It’s a wonderful world.