GOSPEL THOUGHTS
*Ordinary Season: Twelfth Week : Sunday*
*Gospel : Mk 4:35-41*
*First Reading : Jb 38:1, 8-11*
*SECOND READING - 2 Cor 5:14-17*
*Importance of leaving the Crowd and taking Jesus along with Us*
*1) Disciples Taking Jesus with them*
The Gospel of the day has a beautiful gesture by the disciples
The Gospel says *Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was*
This is a very powerful gesture which communicates a powerful message to all of us
This gesture of disciples should really help us to reflect about our relationship with Jesus
*2) Disciples left the Crowd*
The Gospel says that the disciples left the Crowd and took Jesus along with them
Since they left the crowd they were able to take Jesus with them
If they were to take others, they had to leave Jesus. Without Jesus they had to go
The crowd here represtns the people who came to listen to Jesus
So there was a huge crowd along with Jesus and the disciples
*3) Deeper meaning of the Crowd*
At the deeper level, crowd not only represents the people but also many other things
Crowd represtns a big number either in terms of persons or things
So we can list so many other realities, under the concept of Crowd
The Crowd of material things
The crowd of bodily pleasures
The crowd of greed for things
The crowd of power
The crowd of authority
The crowd of wealth
The crowd of position
The crowd of Ego
The crowd of self glorification
The crowd of cheap popularity
The crowd of duplicity
The crowd of hypocrisy
The crowd of all vices
The crowd of bad friendships
Unless we leave these crowd behind we can't take Jesus with us
*4) Boat has a limited place*
The disciples had a boat which had limited place
The boat would not contain the entire crowd.
Therefore they had to make choice between Jesus and the crowd
Finally the disciples made the right choice by taking Jesus
The boat of life has limited place
It can not contain all the crowd, which is mentioned above
We need to make a choice
Choice between crowd and Jesus
*5) The casualties on the Journey*
The Gospel also makes it clear the casualty that happened on the way
There was a huge storm which were breaking the boat
All were frightened about the boat because they all thought they would perish
But Jesus was with them. Jesus controlled everything and they were saved
Imagine if Jesus was not there - they all would have died
Here we see the importance of Jesus being with us, especially when there are problems
*6) The violent storms in life*
Life is like a boat, which moves in the sea of this world, towords the other side of the sea, which is Heaven
There is no sea, which don't have waves and storms
There is no boat, which can sail in the sea without facing waves and Strom
Life is just like that. The voyage of life can't be from the violent waves and storm
If so, we need to take Jesus along with us in order to reach to the other side of the sea
*7) The Violent storms of Life*
The violent storm of deadly sickness
The violent storm of heavy failures
The violent storm of heavy loss
The violent storm of anxiety and worry
The violent storm of loneliness
The violent storm of poverty
The violent storm of guilt feelings
The violent storm of family breakups
The violent storm of insults, humiliations through social media
*8) Taking Jesus along with us*
One of the important turning point of the entire episode
How we can take Jesus along with our journey
Through prayers
Through service
Through generosity
Through sacramental life
Through Christian faith
Through love
Through good relationship
Through unity
Through genuine life
Through practice of moral values
*Think about it*
*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*
*Fr Maxim DSouza*
*Jeppu Seminary*
*Mangalore*
No comments:
Post a Comment