Come Forward

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 2nd Week - Wednesday*

*Gospel : Mk 3:1-6*

*First Reading : Heb 7:1-3, 15-17*

*Come Forward*

*1) The man with withered hand was in the crowd*

The Gospel of the day has a beautiful imagery of calling the man with a withered hand to *come forward* by Jesus who was in the Crowd

In order to get rid of his sickness he had to come forward

In fact the man with withered hand came forward and Jesus healed him from his sickness

This *coming forward* has a deeper meaning and relevance to our life 

*2) Crowd mentality does not go with Christian Spirituality*

In the Synagogue there was a crowd who had come to listen to Jesus

The heard word of God becomes effective only who comes forward from the crowd to have a different way of life 

As long as one remains with the crowd no changes will take place 

That's why coming forward is very important to live the values of Christian spirituality

*3) Crowd represents the Following things*

People those who watch carefully to accuse some one 

People with hypocritical mind and heart to find fault with others 

People with the mind set to use the religious laws and religion for their personal benefits 

People who come together to destroy or to kill the one who does good works 

People who seek the help of others for evil works 

People filled with hatred and revenge

People who rejoice at the fall of others 

These are different faces of Pharisees, who represent each one of us in different context 

*4) Come forward from where?*

We need to come forward from crowd of evil things, hatred, revengeful attitude, pride, hypocrisy

We need to come forward from the crowd of those who try to find fault with others every time, from those who practice the double standards in their life 

We need to come forward from the crowd of those who misuse the religion for their personal benefits 

*5) The Reality of Withered hand*

The man with withered hand shows a great lesson to us 

All of us are affected with various things which results withered heart, withered mind, withered attitude, withered thinking, withered talk, withered service and withered humility

When something is affected with *witheredness* it can not function in a perpoer way, which results is serious faults in our life 

Withered mind, heart, attitude, thinking more dangerous than the withered hand 

*6) Am I ready to come forward*

Coming forward from the above crowd  is a challenging work. 

Unless we come forward we will not able be able to get rid from our witheredness

So its very important to come forward. 

*Jesus says to me come forward*

What is my response??

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*