Sunday February 16, 2025 - Good News Ministries

Good News Reflections:
Making scripture meaningful to your daily life
by Terry Modica

Whenever we contribute to the miseries of others, we work against Christ.

Good News Reflection for:

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 16, 2025

Today’s Prayer:

Beloved Jesus, may Your work in our lives make us obedient witnesses of Your love for mankind. Amen.

IMPROVE YOUR DAY!
Powerful Catholic prayers are available on our YouTube channel.

Today’s Readings:

Jeremiah 17:5-8
Ps 1:1-4,6
1 Corinthians 15:12,16-20
Luke 6:17,20-26
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021625.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-february-16-2025

Jesus sides with the downtrodden

Jesus makes it clear that he sides with the downtrodden in this Sunday’s Gospel reading: the poor (this could be spiritually or materially), the hungry (again, spiritually or physically; the Lord cares about all who feel empty), the weeping, the hated, the excluded, the insulted, and those who are denounced on account of their faith in him.

Whenever we contribute to someone’s miseries, we are setting ourselves up against God. Bad-mouthing people, even when the complaint is justified, is working against Jesus instead of with him.

So is telling demeaning jokes, filing lawsuits that exceed fair justice, or failing to help anyone who comes to our attention and is in need of what we could share.

So is deliberately intimidating an employee or spouse, or being consistently late and causing others to be inconvenienced by the delay, or demanding too much from others, or demanding so much of ourselves that we have no energy or time for the Lord and for the people around us.

Whenever we contribute to the miseries of others, we work against Christ.

What happens to those who continually and unrepentantly set themselves against the Lord? Oh woe! Blessed are those whose hope is in the Lord (as this Sunday’s first reading and responsorial Psalm remind us), but woe inevitably comes upon those whose only hope is human frailty.

The wealthy cannot take their possessions to heaven nor can they buy their way into heaven. Meanwhile, the Lord sides with those who suffer because this wealth had not been shared with them.

Similarly, those who laugh at the ones who cry will not laugh long, for joy at the expense of another is only temporary and never truly satisfying.

The favored and famous who currently receive accolades will be criticized the moment their backs are turned.

The downtrodden are uplifted by Jesus, but those who lift themselves up don’t have enough strength to carry their burdens very well — they are miserable even while they smile.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
In what ways do you feel downtrodden? What is Jesus saying to you about this? How is he holding you? In prayer, imagine his awesome concern for you. It is real!

Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
When you’ve felt downtrodden, how did you discover that Jesus truly cares about you? What blessings come from knowing that Jesus is on your side?

To help you reflect on the topic of this subject, meditate with our Faith Booster called: “God’s plans for you” @ https://wordbytes.org/faith-booster-minis/gods-plans-for-you/

Access more in our new Calendar of Reflections.

To distribute the Good News Reflections in your church bulletin or in RCIA or faith sharing groups, please contact us.

You can also receive this & more faith-builders by text message on your phone.

Keep it going! This reflection reached you thanks to benefactors. Please support this ministry today.

Post your prayer request.

How else can we serve you today? Visit our homepage.

Search more reflections in our continually growing database.

Homebound, Prison & Hospital Ministers are invited to print and distribute them without further permission.

Continue your prayer time with these:
Pray with Saints | Pray the Rosary | Other Prayers | Random Quotes.

Order and share Terry Modica's books

Socialize with us at: