Daily Meditation for January 31, 2025

The stillness of winter may offer an environment for a space of time for quiet. Granted, family responsibilities and work engagements take precedence, but still this time of the year seems to suggest that it is well to find this opportunity for spiritual growth. In St. Mark’s gospel, Jesus is seen rising early in the morning while it was still dark to go off by himself to pray. Prior to that, Isaiah in the Old Testament suggests that we “keep silence before me O islands, and the people renew their strength.” How encouraging this is when so many demands are made on people today. The beginning of Psalm 62 reinforces this message as we read, “My soul waits for God only. From him is my salvation.” When one finds time and space for this quiet, know that Jesus is there. In Revelation, he tells us, “I stand at the door and knock…” Hopefully all will open and invite him in.

By Philip Zimmer, OSB