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The World Among Us

Sunday, February 09, 2003

Meditation
Mark 1:29-39

Imagine being in the entourage of a famous athlete. Every game is sold out because of the crowd’s interest in the star player. After the game, fans clamor for an autograph or just to get a glimpse of their hero. The adulation of the crowds would surely be intoxicating, both for the athlete and all the people who surround him.

That’s one way to imagine the kind of commotion Jesus stirred up wherever he went. Even early in his ministry, the crowd’s interest in Jesus had the capacity of reaching frenzied proportions. And the scene from today’s gospel is no exception. Not only had Jesus made a deep impression on the people with his teaching, he also drove out an unclean spirit, healed Peter’s mother-in-law, and performed cures for all the sick and possessed who crowded around his door. No wonder, when Jesus disappeared early in the morning, the disciples went looking for him: Like a popular athlete, he too had fans to attend to! But Jesus gave the disciples an unexpected answer: “Let us go on” (Mark 1:38).

Jesus never allowed the admiration of the crowds to distract him from his purpose. The Father had sent him into the world to open the way for the kingdom, and Jesus worked until he reached his goal (Luke 13:32-33). He always kept his eyes on this goal, no matter how busy he was or how many people made demands on him. The gospel was everything to Jesus, and he longed to see everyone embrace his message.

Two thousand years later, Jesus remains just as focused. When he enters into our hearts at baptism and gives himself to us in the Eucharist, his one goal is to deliver us from sin and establish his kingdom in us. He wants to comfort and encourage us, and he wants to pierce our hearts with his truth, to deliver us from evil, and to commission us as his servants. Will you let Jesus reveal himself to you at Mass today? Will you let him give you a glimpse of what his kingdom can look like in your life? Are you willing to be sent out as a witness to his kingdom?

“Lord Jesus, I open my heart to you. Establish your kingdom in me. Use me to bring others to you.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Sunday, February 9, 2003 >>

5th Sunday Ordinary Time

Job 7:1-4, 6-7
1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

Psalm 147
Mark 1:29-39

View Readings

LIFE-LINES

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope. Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again.” —Job 7:6-7

Job had formerly been “healthy, wealthy, and wise.” After suffering severe tragedies, he came to the conclusion that man’s life was drudgery (Jb 7:1), slavery (Jb 7:2), and misery (Jb 7:3). Solomon, the wisest man in the world, thought everything in life was vanity (Eccl 1:2). Jesus also taught that life presented impossible problems (see Mt 19:26). Therefore, to be saved we must lose our lives (Lk 9:24).

The only hope in life is Jesus, Who is “the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (Jn 14:6) and “the Resurrection and the Life” (Jn 11:25). When our lives mean Christ (Phil 1:21), we are saved from life’s dilemmas and we have eternal life (see Jn 17:3).

Every Sunday, we have the weekly, world-wide celebration of risen life in Jesus. Even in the most difficult circumstances of life, we are full of hope, through “the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pt 1:3). Every Sunday is the day of life which imbues every other day and moment of life with a hope which will not leave us disappointed (see Rm 5:5).

Live in hope by living in Christ, our Life. Beginning with Sunday, live every day in Christ.

Prayer: Father, send me the Spirit of life so that I will love people enough to tell them there is hope in Life, that is, in Jesus.

Promise: “I do all that I do for the sake of the gospel in the hope of having a share in its blessings.” —1 Cor 9:23

Praise: Praise Jesus, our Life, Resurrection, and Hope!