Forgiving and Giving

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to put our faith into action so that our anointing as people of grace, forgiveness, and love is visible to our community.

Assess Our Need for Forgiveness

The Reading from the Book of Ezekiel presents Acts of the Prophet, Symbolic of the Exile.

* [12:3–10] An exile’s bag contains bare necessities, probably no more than a bowl, a mat, and a waterskin. The prophet’s action foreshadows the fate of ruler and people (vv. 11–14).

* [12:5] Through the wall: mud-brick outer wall of a private home. In this symbolic action, Ezekiel represents the enemy forces, and the house wall, the city wall of Jerusalem breached by the Babylonian army.

* [12:13] Though he shall not see it: according to a Targum, an allusion to Nebuchadnezzar having Zedekiah blinded before deporting him to Babylonia (cf. 2 Kgs 25:7); according to the Septuagint, the king is ashamed of his flight from the city and disguises himself so others will not recognize him.

* [12:16] Both exiles and nations shall know that the exile is divine punishment for Israel’s betrayal of the Lord and the covenant, not evidence that the Lord is too weak to fight off the Babylonian deity. (Ezekiel, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 78 presents a recital of history to show that past generations did not respond to God’s gracious deeds and were punished by God making the gift into a punishment.

* [78:58] Provoked him: lit., “made him jealous.”

* [78:60] Shiloh: an important shrine in the north prior to Jerusalem. Despite its holy status, it was destroyed (Ps 78:60–64; cf. Jer 7:12, 14). (Psalm 78, PSALMS | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew proclaims the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

* [18:21–35] The final section of the discourse deals with the forgiveness that the disciples are to give to their fellow disciples who sin against them. To the question of Peter how often forgiveness is to be granted (Mt 18:21), Jesus answers that it is to be given without limit (Mt 18:22) and illustrates this with the parable of the unmerciful servant (Mt 18:23–34), warning that his heavenly Father will give those who do not forgive the same treatment as that given to the unmerciful servant (Mt 18:35). Mt 18:21–22 correspond to Lk 17:4; the parable and the final warning are peculiar to Matthew. That the parable did not originally belong to this context is suggested by the fact that it really does not deal with repeated forgiveness, which is the point of Peter’s question and Jesus’ reply.

* [18:22] Seventy-seven times: the Greek corresponds exactly to the LXX of Gn 4:24. There is probably an allusion, by contrast, to the limitless vengeance of Lamech in the Genesis text. In any case, what is demanded of the disciples is limitless forgiveness.

* [18:24] A huge amount: literally, “ten thousand talents.” The talent was a unit of coinage of high but varying value depending on its metal (gold, silver, copper) and its place of origin. It is mentioned in the New Testament only here and in Mt 25:14–30.

* [18:26] Pay you back in full: an empty promise, given the size of the debt.

* [18:28] A much smaller amount: literally, “a hundred denarii.” A denarius was the normal daily wage of a laborer. The difference between the two debts is enormous and brings out the absurdity of the conduct of the Christian who has received the great forgiveness of God and yet refuses to forgive the relatively minor offenses done to him.

* [18:34] Since the debt is so great as to be unpayable, the punishment will be endless.

* [18:35] The Father’s forgiveness, already given, will be withdrawn at the final judgment for those who have not imitated his forgiveness by their own. (Matthew, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [19:1] When Jesus finished these words: see note on Mt 7:28–29. The district of Judea across the Jordan: an inexact designation of the territory. Judea did not extend across the Jordan; the territory east of the river was Perea. The route to Jerusalem by way of Perea avoided passage through Samaria. (Matthew, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

David Crawford comments that our perception may cause us to think we are in the right, allowing us to justify our words and actions; and then, failing to consider their side, we get angrier because they won’t apologize or show remorse. (I am reminded that no one is a villain in their own story.) If we are not careful, bitterness and resentment build. The thought of forgiveness may not even occur to us even as our relationships are damaged.

So when Peter asked his question, Jesus understood how much had built up over the years. He understood how keeping a list of grievances makes the list keeper miserable and promotes disharmony and division. How many times? Jesus told him (and us): Stop keeping track and just forgive. Jesus, through parable, reminded Peter (and us) that God has forgiven us more times than we can count, certainly more than we deserve. God loves us in spite of our shortcomings. Extend that same grace, mercy and love to those close to you. (Crawford, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “How often shall I forgive?” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).

"When Peter asked him whether he should forgive his brother sinning against him up to seven times, the Lord replied, 'Not up to seven times but up to seventy times seven times'" In every way he teaches us to be like him in humility and goodness. In weakening and breaking the impulses of our rampant passions he strengthens us by the example of his leniency, by granting us in faith pardon of all our sins. For the vices of our nature did not merit pardon. Therefore all pardon comes from him. In fact, he pardons even those sins that remain in one after confession. The penalty to be paid through Cain was established at sevenfold, but that sin was against a man, against his brother Abel, to the point of murder (Genesis 4:8). But in Lamech the penalty was established at seventy times seven times (Genesis 4:24), and, as we believe, the penalty was established on those responsible for the Lord's Passion. But the Lord through the confession of believers grants pardon for this crime. By the gift of baptism he grants the grace of salvation to his revilers and persecutors. How much more is it necessary, he shows, that pardon be returned by us without measure or number. And we should not think how many times we forgive, but we should cease to be angry with those who sin against us, as often as the occasion for anger exists. Pardon's frequency shows us that in our case there is never a time for anger, since God pardons us for all sins in their entirety by his gift rather than by our merit. Nor should we be excused from the requirement of giving pardon that number of times [i.e., seventy times seven], since through the grace of the gospel God has granted us pardon without measure." (excerpt from ON MATTHEW 18.10) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Prophet Ezekiel makes a symbolic gesture and about being taken into exile in the time between his exile and when the Temple is destroyed in the later exile of his people. Ezekiel makes his point as he pretends to be fleeing from an enemy. In the Gospel the disciples ask how many times they must forgive? They suggest 7 times 7, an extension of the perfect number. but Jesus' number is infinity. The parable of the unforgiving servant means that God has forgiven us many things. We may reply “I am not as bad as some”. We don't know the extent of grace given to all. The person who is less forgiving may be missed, if my heart is already closed. Friar Jude comments that it is not that God won’t forgive me, but we need to consider my willingness to accept forgiveness.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 18:21–19:1 comments that the character in the parable who answers Peter’s question is the master. He forgives his servant “a huge amount” (Matthew 18:24) and expects that servant to be just as forgiving toward a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller amount.

Jesus is telling Peter, and telling each of us, You have already been forgiven a huge debt; you cannot put a limit on how much you are willing to forgive. You need to be as forgiving toward one another as I have been toward you.

Jesus looks on you with so much mercy that he has forgiven all your sins. He wants you to live in joy and freedom—and to joyfully and freely extend that forgiveness to everyone around you.

“Lord, help me to grasp the depth of your mercy and to be just as merciful toward those who sin against me!” (Meditation on Matthew 18:21–19:1, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, comments Franciscan mysticism is at heart incarnational mysticism. Theologian Ilia Delio highlights how Francis of Assisi was transformed by the radical implications of the Incarnation, including his powerful experience meeting a leper.

The leper experience was a turning point in Francis’ life. As his life deepened in God, he made a constant effort to spend himself in love by giving himself to the other…. Following the footprints of Jesus, Francis found the God of humble love not among the popular and the proud, the arrogant and the rich or those who “stand out” in society, but among the ordinary, the forgotten, the poor and sick and marginalized….

 

The simplest way to describe God’s poverty and humility is in terms of love. Love gives itself away—this is God’s poverty. Love turns toward the other so it can give itself to the other—this is God’s humility. In the Incarnation, God turns toward us through the Son/Word and gives [God’s] self to us as love. We call this gift of God’s love to us, this gift of total self-emptying love, “kenosis.” The poverty of God is the kenosis or self-emptying of the Word, the descent of the Word, from the riches of divine glory into our fragile human nature. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

The Spirit reveals the extent of the “self emptying” love that we have experienced and nudges us to be agents of forgiveness and love to the people we have been given to develop our unconditional love.

References

Crawford, D. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-13-2026 

Ezekiel, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/12? 

Matthew, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18?21 

Matthew, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19 

Meditation on Matthew 18:21–19:1. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/08/13/1644835/ 

Psalm 78, PSALMS | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/78?56 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Incarnation: The Humility of God. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/incarnation-the-humility-of-god/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Lord, How Often Shall I Forgive My Brother? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Conflict and Cleansing

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder the paths we walk that we did not choose as we struggle for restoration of health.

Hope in the Journey to Health

The Reading from the Second Book of Kings describes breaching of the city walls.

* [25:3] Ninth day of the month: the text does not say which month, but Jer 39:2 and 52:6 set the breaching of the city walls in the fourth month; in later times that was the date of a fast commemorating the event (cf. Zec 8:19). People of the land: the influential citizens (see note on 11:14); even they, whose resources went beyond those of the ordinary people, were starving.

* [25:4] The Hebrew text of this verse is missing some words. The present translation is based on a likely reconstruction.

* [25:11] Those who had deserted: perhaps on the advice of Jeremiah; cf. Jer 38:2–3. (2 Kings, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 137 presents difficulty to sing the people’s sacred songs in an alien land.

* [Psalm 137] A singer refuses to sing the people’s sacred songs in an alien land despite demands from Babylonian captors (Ps 137:1–4). The singer swears an oath by what is most dear to a musician—hands and tongue—to exalt Jerusalem always (Ps 137:5–6). The Psalm ends with a prayer that the old enemies of Jerusalem, Edom and Babylon, be destroyed (Ps 137:7–9). (Psalms, PSALM 137 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus presents the Cleansing of a Leper.

 

[8:2] A leper: see note on Mk 1:40.

* [8:4] Cf. Lv 14:2–9. That will be proof for them: the Greek can also mean “that will be proof against them.” It is not clear whether them refers to the priests or the people. (Matthew, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

Nancy Shirley reflects on our conflict in the prayer phrase “Thy Will Be Done”.  

We will ask and accept whatever the answer with the acceptance that the outcome is what it should be.  I may not always understand (or like) the outcome at the time or even ever, yet I always knew on some level it was meant to be. 

This idea of unanswered prayers is sometimes difficult to accept in the short term but inevitably turns out to be exactly what it should. It is challenging to accept some of the events that happen to us or to others. Sometimes it seems unfathomable that some things are “allowed” to happen.  How can an all-powerful God allow such evil to happen? I certainly don’t have an answer but I do know that everything that has happened to me, shaped me and led me to decisions that were exactly what I should do or where I should be. That doesn’t mean there weren’t times when I felt broken by the circumstances yet truly I would/could say, God has never let me down before and I have no reason to believe that He will now. (Shirley, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The authority to heal and make clean belongs to Christ,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)

"With great fervor before Jesus' knees, the leper pleaded with him (Mark 1:40) with sincere faith. He discerned who Jesus was. He did not state conditionally, 'If you request it of God' or 'If you pray for me.' Rather, he said simply, 'If you will, you can make me clean.' He did not pray, 'Lord, cleanse me.' Rather, he leaves everything to the Lord and makes his own recovery depend entirely on him. Thus he testified that all authority belongs to him. One might ask, 'What if the leper had been mistaken in this assumption?' If he had been mistaken, wouldn't it have been fitting for the Lord to reprove him and set him straight? But did he do this? No. Quite to the contrary, Jesus established and confirmed exactly what he had said." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 25.1) (Schwager, D. n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 8:1-4 comments that this story reminds us that we are all like this poor man. We are all “diseased” because of our sins. They burden us, separate us from God, and isolate us from our brothers and sisters in Christ. But like this man, we have received God’s overflowing grace! Jesus died to cleanse us from every sin. We have new life in him, and he is now asking us to go and “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

Every time you celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, you relive this Gospel story. You enter the confessional like the sick man, afflicted with sin but turning to Jesus for help and healing. And every time you confess your sins, he cleanses and heals you. Now you are free! You can “go show yourself” to the people around you (Matthew 8:4). By your witness of humility, joy, and peace, you can help them see what Jesus has done for you—and they will be moved to seek out the Lord for themselves!

“Thank you, Lord, for forgiving my sin! Help me tell the world what you have done for me.” (Meditation on Matthew 8:1-4, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today

Brian McLaren suggests that love can serve as a deep source of hope that is not dependent on outcome.

To put it differently, even if we lose hope for a good outcome, we need not lose hope of being good people, as we are able: courageous, wise, kind, loving, “in defiance of all that is bad around us.” [1] … 

We feel arising within us this sustained declaration: We will live as beautifully, bravely, and kindly as we can as long as we can, no matter how ugly, scary, and mean the world becomes, even if failure and death seem inevitable. In fact, it is only in the context of failure and death that this virtue develops. That’s why Richard Rohr describes this kind of hope as “the fruit of a learned capacity to suffer wisely and generously. You come out much larger and that largeness becomes your hope.” [2]

We seek the consolation of the Spirit when the situation of our journey seems to lead in a direction that defies our understanding and makes hope our Way to maintain our faith and ultimate healing of our wounds.

References

Matthew, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/8?1 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). The Prime Motive of Love. CAC.org. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-prime-motive-of-love/ 

Meditation on Matthew 8:1-4. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/06/26/1600610/ 

Psalms, PSALM 137 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/137? 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Lord, You Can Make Me Clean. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Shirley, N. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-26-2026 

2 Kings, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2kings/25?

Healing Surrender

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to consider what aspects of our life we need to surrender to experience the healing hand of God.

Guiding Our Way

The Reading from the First Book of Samuel proclaims the situation prior to the Loss of the Ark.

* [4:1–7:1] The Ark Narrative: A striking indication that this is an independent narrative is the absence of any mention of Samuel. The Philistines: one of the Sea Peoples, of Aegean origin, who occupied the coastal plain of Palestine and threatened the Israelites who settled the inland hills.

* [4:4] Enthroned upon the cherubim: this divine title first occurs in the Old Testament at the sanctuary at Shiloh (cf. 2 Sm 6:2); God is represented seated upon a throne borne through the heavens by cherubim, creatures partly human being, partly beast (cf. Ez 1 and 10).

* [4:8] These mighty gods: the Philistines, who were polytheists, presume that the Israelites also honored several gods.

* [4:10] To their own tents: the defeat is so catastrophic that the soldiers abandon the army for home; cf. 2 Sm 18:17. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 44 addresses the struggle with being God’s special people amid divine silence.

* [Psalm 44] In this lament the community reminds God of past favors which it has always acknowledged (Ps 44:2–9). But now God has abandoned Israel to defeat and humiliation (Ps 44:10–17), though the people are not conscious of any sin against the covenant (Ps 44:18–23). They struggle with being God’s special people amid divine silence; yet they continue to pray (Ps 44:24–26). (Psalms, PSALM 44 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark presents the Cleansing of a Leper by Jesus.

* [1:21–45] The account of a single day’s ministry of Jesus on a sabbath in and outside the synagogue of Capernaum (Mk 1:21–31) combines teaching and miracles of exorcism and healing. Mention is not made of the content of the teaching but of the effect of astonishment and alarm on the people. Jesus’ teaching with authority, making an absolute claim on the hearer, was in the best tradition of the ancient prophets, not of the scribes. The narrative continues with events that evening (Mk 1:32–34; see notes on Mt 8:14–17) and the next day (Mk 1:35–39). The cleansing in Mk 1:40–45 stands as an isolated story.

* [1:40] A leper: for the various forms of skin disease, see Lv 13:1–50 and the note on Lv 13:2–4. There are only two instances in the Old Testament in which God is shown to have cured a leper (Nm 12:10–15; 2 Kgs 5:1–14). The law of Moses provided for the ritual purification of a leper. In curing the leper, Jesus assumes that the priests will reinstate the cured man into the religious community. See also note on Lk 5:14. (Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Michele Bogard shares favorite carol is. “O Holy Night”. And the lyric “He appeared and the soul felt its worth” has always struck her as this truly awesome moment when an individual finally realizes that they are made in the image and likeness of God with inherent dignity. She notes that in Greg Boyle, SJ’s Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, he shares:

“Mother Teresa diagnoses the world’s ills in this way: we’ve just forgotten that we belong to each other’. Kinship is what happens to us when we refuse to let that happen. With kinship as the goal, other essential things fall into place; without it, no justice, no peace. I suspect that were kinship our goal, we would no longer be promoting justice – we would be celebrating it” (p.187).

God sent Jesus to bear the burden of humanity to show us the way. He humbled himself to eliminate margins, barriers and helped widen our concept of compassion. (Bogard, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “Why did Jesus touch the leper,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

And why did [Jesus] touch him, since the law forbade the touching of a leper? He touched him to show that 'all things are clean to the clean' (Titus 1:15). Because the filth that is in one person does not adhere to others, nor does external uncleanness defile the clean of heart. So he touches him in his untouchability, that he might instruct us in humility; that he might teach us that we should despise no one, or abhor them, or regard them as pitiable, because of some wound of their body or some blemish for which they might be called to render an account... So, stretching forth his hand to touch, the leprosy immediately departs. The hand of the Lord is found to have touched not a leper, but a body made clean! Let us consider here, beloved, if there be anyone here that has the taint of leprosy in his soul, or the contamination of guilt in his heart? If he has, instantly adoring God, let him say: 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.' (excerpt from FRAGMENTS ON MATTHEW 2.2-3) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Samuel 4:1-11 comments that it can be easy to act like these Israelites. Something bad happens, and we react without taking the time to seek God’s wisdom and guidance or his comfort. Or we formulate a plan to tackle a challenging situation and dive right in, hoping God will be with us.

But the Lord is never absent! He wants to be a part of our lives. He is always with us, always ready to teach us and guide us. His arms are always open wide to us when we are hurting—even when he seems distant. And even if we have caused our own hurt by our lack of faithfulness to him, he is always eager to help us return to him and to comfort us. This is the long lesson that the Israelites learned over many years, and it’s the lesson that God wants to teach us as well. Remember that years after this event, he raised up David, who recaptured the ark, routed the Philistines, and gathered the scattered tribes of Israel into one kingdom. The Lord never gave up on his people, and he won’t give up on you.

So always remember that you have a Father who is ready to help when you call on him. You never have to face any situation alone!

“Lord, thank you for always being with me!” (Meditation on 1 Samuel 4:1-11, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in 1 Samuel the Philistines defeat the 12 tribes loosely joined and not very united. The Philistines, likely refugees from Greece, who knew how to smelt iron, technology unknown in Israel, were formidable enemies. The tribes of Israel believed that with the Ark they could not lose. This was not a spiritual act of surrender to the will of God. We are told that the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, accompanied the ark of God were terrible men in the Temple and became symbols of faithlessness. Jesus acts to exorcise evil and heals a leper, who was considered unclean. By treating him with dignity and kindness Jesus makes him clean. Jesus has to go to a deserted place for some peace. We too need to stand back for time of peace, The Sabbath is the time of peace and rest in the Lord and each other's presence.

Father Richard Rohr describes why the book of Genesis was so important to the people of ancient Israel. The religious questions they were wrestling with are questions that thoughtful people ask in every age: What is the meaning of life? Where does it come from? Where does it go? What is the relationship between God and humanity? Why is there evil in the world? Why do good people have to suffer? These questions were especially disturbing for the Jews after their return from exile. They thought they had known who they were and what God’s purpose was for them, but the shattering of their dreams forced them to think again and to think more deeply.

Perhaps the most important thing to bear in mind when reading the first eleven chapters of Genesis is that it is written not only about the past but about the present— the perennial present that is always with us. The authors of Genesis wrote down the Word that came to them in their time, but in doing so they were putting into human words the eternal Word which speaks the truth for every generation. They were writing what is always true about God and human beings, about the goodness of the world, and about “sin” which causes suffering.

Put in theological terminology, the story is saying that everything is grace, everything is gift, everything comes from God. God is the one who makes something out of nothing and gives it to us, not only then, but now. God created both the natural universe and our own human nature, and all of it is good. All of it is to be enjoyed, if we can receive it as a gift. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the Spirit to empower us through our Baptismal anointing, as priest, prophet, and leader, to pray and act on our insight as an agent of healing in Jesus Name.

References

Bogard, M. (2026, January 15). Daily Reflection January 15, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved January 15, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-15-2026 

Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?40 

Meditation on 1 Samuel 4:1-11. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 15, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/15/1480479/ 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/4?1 

Psalms, PSALM 44 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/44?10 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Inviting Good Questions. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 15, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/inviting-good-questions/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Lord Jesus Can Make Me Clean. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 15, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/