A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (3:7-12)
Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, “You are the Son of God.”
He warned them sternly not to make him known.
(The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!)
Reflection: Jesus the healer, the Son of God!
In today’s gospel reading for today, large groups of people hear of the news of Jesus and His power to heal, and they began following Jesus and his disciples as they headed towards the sea from Galilee. The size of the crowd must have been so immense that Jesus instructed the disciples to prepare a boat for him so that the people would not crush him. They must have received the news about the healing of a leper who was sternly told by Jesus not to tell anyone, as well as the healing of a paralytic, the man with a shriveled hand and other miracles. Jesus cured many people, and now everyone with ailments wanted to touch him!
Just imagine ourselves as being drawn in with the large crowds to seek healing from Jesus for an incurable disease or handicap and receiving such great news with excitement and the hope to be healed from our ailments! We all rush to follow Jesus to be healed with our neighbors, family, and friends. And Jesus graciously cures us! What a feeling of relief and joy to be healed by Jesus! I can now walk! I can now hear, speak and see! My pain is gone! I can feel my arms and legs once again! Even people with evil spirits were healed by Jesus as they proclaimed, you are the Son of God, as our Jesus warns them sternly not to make Him known.
Slowly and ever slowly as we read through scripture how the greatness of our Lord Jesus is revealed to the people, and to all of us who read the holy Gospels of scripture. Yes! Jesus is a great healer! Most importantly, Jesus is the Son of God! He is our Lord and King who with the Holy Father created us and the whole universe from the very beginning! Our Lord Jesus is our loving savior, and He has saved us from everlasting death and sin to allow us to be children of God, and Jesus wants everyone to be citizens of not just His Kingdom here on earth, but most importantly in the eternity of His kingdom in Heaven. Have faith and trust in Jesus! Jesus is the hope of our salvation! Follow our Lord Jesus!
Action for the Day:
In silent prayer, share our gratitude for all our blessings to our Lord Jesus. He made us and all creation. Everything we have is from Him. Ask for forgiveness for our shortcomings, then lift up our requests and petitions to Jesus. He knows what we are going through. He knows what we need even before we ask. Ask our Lord Jesus to strengthen our faith, and also ask him how best to serve Him to share His goodness, kindness mercy and love to our co-workers, classmates, with our family, with our friends and with everyone we meet.
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