19-Jan-17

Gospel MK 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.
Reflection:
In Jesus' time, the Jewish synagogue was not a place of worship but rather a place to gather and discuss scripture. Anyone was welcome to take part in the discussion which often ended in debate. In the early days of Jesus' ministry He regularly attended synagogue and felt welcomed.
However, to those who saw themselves as God's chosen people, those steeped in tradition and observance of manmade laws, Jesus was soon viewed as a threat.
In Nazareth He was driven from the synagogue:
"When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way." (Luke 4:14-30)
The people, however, were tired of living under the oppressive manmade rules imposed by the scribes and Pharisees. No longer welcome in the synagogues, Jesus took God's message "on the road."
"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."
Jesus' message of God's unconditional love and forgiveness was like a breath of fresh air to the people who had lived in fear of being stoned to death for minor infractions of their manmade laws. His words resonated as authentic, and those who heard Him felt the love of God in their hearts.
Large numbers flocked to hear Him speak and to witness Him curing the sick and healing the crippled.
"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."
There are times when even those who are against us may recognize the authenticity of our message.
"And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, "You are the Son of God."
Such was the case with Jesus, for even those whose hearts were filled with evil acknowledged that He came from God.
"People may forget what you said, people may forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - - Unknown