Sunday, January 14, 2024

Reflection for January 18, Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 3:7-12


Gospel: Mark 3:7-12
Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. 

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

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Reflection:

Are you a follower of Jesus? 

 Everyone from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, Tyre and Sidon want to have a glimpse of Jesus. During this gospel episode Jesus was like a popular celebrity who attracts people from different places. 

What was the moving force of their attraction to Jesus? It was Jesus’ miracles and healings. But when Jesus stopped doing miracles and was already being tortured, made fun of and then killed by the roman soldiers. Only a few dared to follow Him until the end majority of them evaporated like a dew in the morning.

Such is life, almost everyone wants to be attached to us and to know us if we are powerful and popular. But notice also that when we do not have power anymore, when we grow old and get sick. Only a few will remember us, those who would stay by our side will be the few true relatives and friends. 

Jesus is not concerned as to who will be staying by His side. What is primordial in His mind is to help.  In like manner we too are being urged to help without any discrimination. No matter who they are no matter if they would be loyal to us until the end or not. What is always important is we do good and we live the teachings of Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas

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