Where did I get all this?

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 14th Week -  Sunday*

*GOSPEL - Mk 6:1-6*

*First Reading - Ez 2:2-5*

*SECOND READING - 2 Cor 12:7-10*

*Where did I get all this?*

*They said, “Where did this man get all this?*

*1) The question of the Native People*

Where did this man get all this? 

The crowd asked this question by seeing some extraordinary things in Jesus 

Since Jesus was working great miracles and doing lots of good work, people spontaneously asked this above question

*2) The question can be seen in two angles*

*Positive Angle*

This angle will help the person to appreciate the greatness and goodness of the person 

The positive approach will help the person to find out the true answers to the above question

The positive approach will help the person to get some inspiration from the other 

*Negative Angle*

When a person takes a negative approach, he/she will only find faults with the person, and will try to belittle the person 

He/she will not accept the reality in its true sense but will take it in a wrong or crooked way 

negative approach neither will help the person nor the other

*3)  Native people had negative approach*

 

It is very clear from their answers that their approach was very negative 

Their response like 

What kind of wisdom has been given him?

What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!

Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?

And are not his sisters here with us?”

*And they took offense at him.*

The last sentence makes it very clear their intention was only to find fault with Jesus and to malign His name 

*4) What Is the Final answer to this Question*

Final answer to this question is simple and straight 

He got all these from His heavenly Father 

Abba Father blessed Him with special power and He was able to perform all the miracles. 

So God is the Source of everything

*5) My life and this Question*

I need to look at my own life and need to ask this question *Where did this man get all this?*

*This man* refers to my own life, my own inner self, my own personality, my own talents, skills, abilities, intelligence, IQ power, bodily strength, and so on 

When I reflect this question with this approach I may have two approaches once again 

*Self centred approach* : This approach will make a person proud and he/she will say I am responsible, my hard work is responsible, my intelligence, my skills and he/she will say *I* am at the centre of everything. 

*God centred approach*: The person who has God centred approach will see that everything comes from God 

God is the Source of everything

It is by God's grace I am able to do it 

It is God who works in and through me 

So this will be the approach

*6) What is my approach?* 

First of all find out what extraordinary Things are found in your life?

Consider everything in life is extraordinary, nothing is ordinary

What is my approach to the extraordinary things in my life? 

*God centred approach?*

*Self centred approach?*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*