Word of Mouth

Today’s Gospel Text: Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed; also from Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idume'a and from beyond the Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon a great multitude, hearing all that he did, came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they should crush him; 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. Mark 3:7-12

Reflection: In our world of modern media we have lost the significance of the ‘word of mouth’ phenomenon.

Today the media is the most used and abused means of communication and some in the church too think that it is only through the media that the Gospel can be communicated to the world. In the process what they communicate to the world is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ but their own agenda.

If one glances at the media and its work, then we cannot fail to see some of the great abuses of the media; the world of advertisement which keeps bombarding the undiscerning pliable mind towards the many temptations and luxuries of life. The worst is that such things are pushed on to us through high forms of deceptive unethical strategies.

Even the market research and research in consumer behavior are aimed at strategizing towards a particular segment, with unbridled deception and information, all within the ambit of the law

Then we have the daily news which is animated by the commercial interest and hence the great emphasis on promoting what sells.

The Political news always rules the roost along with tragedies and sensationalism.

But there could be a sensational religious experience or a healing or a miracle which may never go reported in the media or if reported then it is only to malign such an event.  Thus showing the prejudice with which they operate.

Does the Church need the media? Yes it does but more than its need it needs to proclaim the good news of Salvation to the proclaimer’s of the bad and corrupted news; a news that is always contaminated with the corruption of society rather than by absolute truth, in order that it is purified with the Gospel of Jesus. 

On the other hand the church need not rely on the media for, in whatever forms, to bring the good news of salvation to people. The gospel passage clearly shows the extent of the power and reach of Jesus beyond the borders of Palestine, that they come to him to listen and be healed and delivered, without media coverage. 

How this was made possible? Only through word of mouth and God’s spirit at work in the situation!  

Prayer: Lord, bless all those who humbly carry on your mission to proclaim the gospel without much fanfare and hype to rely on the Holy Spirit. 

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