Daily Reflection for Thursday, January 23, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Thursday’s readings at this link: Click here.
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7
Responsorial: Psalm 56:2-3, 9-13
Gospel: Mark 3:7-12
Our reflection on Thursday’s readings:
“A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea…also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.” Mark 3:7-8
The Gospel describes one of the many episodes in the life of Jesus where he was mobbed by huge crowds of people seeking his healing and wisdom. There were so many people that Jesus even feared being crushed by the frantic mob. It is hard to place this event into our modern American world where the only things that draw mobs of crazed people are sporting events, concerts, and Black Friday sales.
Even more difficult for my modern American brain is to think that some of these people were so desperate for Jesus that they walked for days just to see him. Tyre and Sidon are in modern day Lebanon and Jesus was preaching near the Sea of Galilee at least 40 miles away. Jerusalem was almost 100 miles away! To put this into perspective, this is like walking from St. Monica in Indianapolis to Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana to be with Jesus. Think of what the attendance at church would be like if we had to walk 18 hours to get there! People at our parish park in the fire lanes and the lawn because they cannot walk an extra two minutes to find a proper parking space.
The people of Christ’s lifetime were so desperate for his healing that they were willing to sacrifice their time and energy. We, too, should be desperate for Jesus and the healing power found in Him. We may not all be suffering physically, but too many suffer spiritually.
How might we go out of our way today to be with Jesus and seek his healing love? Maybe it’s taking a few extra minutes today in prayer or spending time with the Blessed Sacrament or seeking his healing in the rite of reconciliation. Whatever it might be, take some time to go out of your way to be with God today.
Peace and blessings,
Pete Kuester