Savior God

Today’s Gospel Text:  And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennes'aret, and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, 55 and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well. Mark 6:53-56

Reflection: It can happen anywhere and in any situation, given the conditions, whereby we look at people from our own narrow categories.

So we could have chocolate uncles, gossip aunty, helping aunty, fighting Tom, flirting Mini, etc..

Many a times our categorization only helps in reducing people to a category and force render them handicapped as if they are not capable of handling any other business.

But the worst is when we deal with God in the same way and the Lord will not easily protest and does oblige us in order to prove his love to us.

In the gospel we find that the people now seem to look at him as a healer and bring him their sick from everywhere so that they may even touch the fringe of his garments and get well.

It is fine and the Lord doesn’t mind we turning to him for healing but if we do not acknowledge the Lord as our savior and merely look at him as our healer and happiness provider then we could end up crucifying God in our midst.

He is to be known for his own sake and hence he the Lord is not just a healer, but a savior who has labored in our midst, by even shedding his blood.  His toil is not just sweat but his own precious blood, shed on the altar of the cross to the very last drop.

He is the crucified savior, the one who died in our place in order that we might be saved from the eternal punishment.

If we then look upon him as our savior then our approach too towards him will be different and we would seek to be instruments, like a true and dedicated disciple, learning from him and carrying his yoke upon us rather than merely seeking his healing all the time.

Prayer: Teach us O Lord your way and grant us your saving help.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Do not follow Me

Today’s Gospel Text:  They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Ger'asenes. 2 And when he had come out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him any more, even with a chain; 4 for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the fetters he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out, and bruising himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him; 7 and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." 8 For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9 And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." 10 And he begged him eagerly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; 12 and they begged him, "Send us to the swine, let us enter them." 13 So he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.

14 The herdsmen fled, and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus, and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it told what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their neighborhood. 18 And as he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But he refused, and said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decap'olis how much Jesus had done for him; and all men marveled. Mark 5:1-20

Reflection: Some experiences of life make us matured and good instrument of God to reach out to others.

In this story of the demoniac we have a beautiful example of Jesus’ approach to life.

All throughout the Gospel we have this strong message that in order to find our salvation we also have to follow Christ besides believing in him. 

No doubt, the majority of us may have to do that and even be part of the church, which is a constitutive element for our salvation. 

The exception to the rule is brought about in this story; even though the demoniac wanted to follow Christ and dwell in the security of Christ’s love, Jesus forbids him from doing so.

Was he not for many years being taught in the school of the evil one, under the possession of the devil, tormented by him? 

And if we were to apply modern psychological terms then we could confidently affirm that this man was out of his mind and more so had become a terror to the many who just couldn't understand the phenomenon and the power that he exercised when chained.

Did such a one not need a period of formation, go through a rite of Christ initiation and a course in discipleship, spirituality, theology, etc.?

Why then did Christ reject him when he wanted to follow Christ? His rejection by Christ was an acceptance by Christ of the immense work he had worked in the man overnight; a man who had been also schooled through the worst ever hardship and cross of life. 

Besides God, only he knew what shame and hardship he may have gone through in order to come out of his situation, waiting for the day of his salvation. 

Did he again now had to carry the cross daily and follow him, the one who now knows that the     

“yoke of Christ is easy, and his burden is light." (cfr.Matt 11:30) - Taking them upon himself he must now proclaim Christ all throughout the Decapolis.

The desire to proclaim is clear visible sign of a good disciple and it amounts to being a witness; the one who proclaims the truth of one's encounter with Christ is a sound witness of Christ. 

Prayer:  Lord, I pray that I too may encounter you in my daily life and thus proclaim what you do to me to others. 

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Whose Disciple?

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 19 And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; if he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins." Mark 2:18-22

Reflection: As the master so too are the disciples.

A disciple will seek to imitate his master; or rather in the first place, a disciple opts for a master according to the nature of his heart which could vibe with his master’s thoughts and which expresses it perfectly and in great depth.  

Likewise, says Jesus: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully taught will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40-41

Hence in the world there will always be disciples and followers with a master. Some will have them with deception and some with truth on their side.

Of our selves we cannot be masters or guru's: ".. if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." Matt 15:14

We as Christians are supposed to be masters and disciples at the same time, by virtue of our following of the supreme and the greatest ever master; Jesus Christ and only by abiding in him. (cfr. Jn.15:5)

To follow Christ is not like following the many who seek disciples, either as an individual or as a congregation in the church, or as an institution or for some social or political cause.

Christ is the harbinger of all truth, the perfect master, the greatest example in human history, who has the answer and is still alive to guide his flock, not just through his body the church but also through the promised Holy Spirit and through his holy servants whose spirit still permeates the church.  

As in this gospel text above; whether it was John’s disciple or the disciples of the Pharisees, whether they did it right or wrong, they ultimately have to consult the Lord.

Jesus, in keeping with the law of discipleship and human wisdom, apparently may have got it all wrong yet when we listen to his wisdom we realize that what he has is the perfect answer with no need for human additions to perfect it.

The calling should be very clear; do not go by the stature of the individuals who may at times be wolves in sheep’s clothing, or even if one is entangled, the truth which leaves men with no excuse remains: the greatest master ever has revealed himself in Jesus so as not to be deceived by any sinful deception.

What is more, he even gives us the grace to free ourselves from the deceptive guru's of the world and helps us to see the futility of their wisdom. 

Prayer: Lord, purify my heart that I may sincerely seek you and be guided by your wisdom in all things.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Mission of Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text:  He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. 14 And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.

15 And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:13-17

Reflection: Jesus’ action to sit with tax collectors and sinners went against the norms of the day. These were known offenders whom people of spiritual stature would love to disdain and keep away from.

Probably the custom may have been so strong that these Scribes of the Pharisees did not care for their wealth because those who carried the tag of spirituality already had the abundance on account of the strict laws on tithing and what is more they did carry a honorable place in society too.

So what was the big deal for the scribes of the Pharisees to reject these? But was it not a inhuman act to do so?

On the other hand, even though Jesus’ action was a great and noble act, we have many in our days who may score better when it comes to non-discriminatory attitude towards others.

A good and kind politician may do it better still and so too a man on the street yet the truth is that no one does it without some motive or the other. Even beneath the pure motive is a motive which is always allured with human sinfulness. 

Jesus too had his motives to reach out to these: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (vs. 17) His motive was the very purpose for which he came, the goal and vision, to do good, which he passes on to all those who follow him.

To judge their motives and to condemn it belongs to the ones who have a purer motive than those whose motives are not aligned to Christ as the goal of their lives.

It is the goal of Jesus which we all must strive, no matter what judgment and condemnation may be issued against his followers for seeking to proselytize but the dedicated disciple must stay at it.

Prayer:  Lord teach me to be true and faithful to your calling and never let me be parted from it.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Responsiblity

Today’s Gospel Text:  And James and John, the sons of Zeb'edee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." 36 And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39 And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:35-45

Reflection: Many seek power and positions in life but they would not want to take up the total responsibilities that comes with such positions.

Some on gaining power become more corrupt and thus abdicate their responsibility to manage their jobs in all sincerity and with the right spirit.

Some gain power and want positions too but are incapable of handling their responsibilities and yet would not have the humility to step down or delegate that responsibility to someone lower then them, who may be better equipped and more capable.

There may be some in power who are so insecure that they work by envy of their subordinates and subjugate or spend their time and talent in persecuting their juniors and even demanding respect and honor.

Others gain power and positions, fulfill their responsibilities to the bare minimum or go by the code and hence can be less human in their ways of going about their job.

Some see how they can play even with their enemies, as long as they have the power in their hands by virtue of their position and authority.

Some do not know the job and are totally incapable and yet want to be in power and hold on to positions.

When will Christians learn from their faith that they already have a special place and privilege in society as salt of the earth and light of the world.

They wield a certain power by virtue of their faith and they need to live an incorrupt and self-sacrificing life as part of their responsibility to lead others to the light too.

Thus the Dedicated Disciples, who seeks that power and position, are admonished by Jesus and reminded about their responsibilities as true dedicated disciples; “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"

Prayer: Lord we too desire that special place in your kingdom; strengthen us to accept the responsibilities associated with our privileges as Christians.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Take Mary Home

Today’s Gospel Text: So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Mag'dalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. John 19:25-27

Reflection: No disciples at the cross except John and only the women, where did they go at this crucial moment when any human being waiting to depart would want them more.

Indeed, it was a crucial moment and at the same time a terrifying moment, because an innocent was killed in the most treacherous way, ever known to man.  

Who would want to stand next to a man who has been alleged to have committed one of the most grievous crimes? Who would like to be blacklisted, with the all powerful authorities bent on snuffing out a life that has been a threat to their ambitions and goals?

If it were only the Jewish authorities that were the cause of the injustice to Jesus and his companions then they could have gone in appeal to the pagan Roman authorities.

But it was not to be so, for even the Romans would want to cater to the Jewish sensitivities, which represented by the Jewish authorities. These Jewish authorities could abuse their position in getting a motley group to support their nefarious end.

In such circumstances the presence of the three Mary's and the beloved disciple at the foot of the cross was rather a bold step on their part, made possible with their love and absolute trust in their master, now crucified. It made them persist in being there at the moment of his ignoble death.

At the cross  new relationships are established, because it is a parting moment: "Woman, behold, your son!" (vs. 26)

It was like saying, woman you have the first say, God has blessed you with a free will to choose again, whether my word or your choice, if you accept him and the responsibility of discipling my disciple then I will announce my next plan.

Then he announces plan two, addressed to his beloved dedicated disciple: "Behold, your mother!" (vs. 27a)

Accepted, it meant taking Mary home with him: “And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (vs. 27b)

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the gift of Mary, who not only said yes to bring you in this world as our savior, but also said yes to adopt us as her own. May we through her many sorrows find salvation.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us