Word to the Wise
Thursday, January 18, 2024 - Thursday in the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Sam 18:6-9; 19:1-7 and Mark 3:7-12]Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and 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. [Mark]
JANUARY 18 ST. MARGARET OF HUNGARY, O.P.
Jesus is fighting a battle on many fronts. He is being overwhelmed by the crowds, some of whom are ill and some of whom just want to see what they have been hearing about. He is battling the "unclean spirits" who know his identity far better than any human and that identity will only be known to humans with his death and resurrection. He is battling the religious authorities - the scribes and Pharisees - who resent his popularity and attitude toward religious observance. And, as we will see later on, he will be battling the misunderstanding of his own family and his closest disciples!!! Popularity (notoriety?) or celebrity comes with a price!
The irony in the gospel is that those who were in the best position to put their faith in Jesus are the ones who reject him. It is the lowly folk, the sinners and tax collectors who show some faith and come for healing. The powerless recognize Jesus' power, although even here Jesus warns about faith based only on "signs and wonders."
We who are now living more than 2,000 years later can ask what it is that attracts US to Jesus? What is OUR faith based on? Is his teaching a threat to our way of life? A reading of the Sermon on the Mount or of the parable of the Last Judgment in the Gospel According to Matthew can be a challenge to the way we live and act. Does it impact our belief? The Gospel According to Mark is a challenge to accept or reject Jesus. Where do we fit in? AMEN