“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
10th January 2018.
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WEDNESDAY, FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Reading 1: 1 Sam 3:1-10, 19-20 Samuel hears the voice of God and he responds saying: ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening’.
Res. Psalm: Ps 39:2,5,7-10 Hear, I am! I come to do your will.
Gospel:Mk 1:29-39 Jesus delivers a man from an unclean spirit
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THE MISSION OF JESUS
Today’s first reading teaches us what vocation is. God calls and Samuel answers, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” The psalmist echoes Samuel’s wonderful response to the divine call: “Here am I. You called me.” Jesus will use practically the same words in the Garden of Gethsemani. There are a great variety of vocations to which God can call us. There is the vocation of marriage, the religious life, the priesthood, the single life in the world. What is common and essential to all is that God calls us to do his work and to become holy by living our vocation to the best of our ability. Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will is not only the ideal attitude if we are not yet sure of our vocation; it also gives us the best possible way of living out our vocation. By the way, can you think of a better attitude with which to hear the gospel than Samuel’s “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Why did Jesus come? What was the purpose of His life on Earth? Today’s Gospel sheds light on these questions. Jesus came to preaching about Himself as THE Truth that is spoken. He came as the full revelation of the Father in Heaven and is the revelation of ALL Truth. He came to share Himself, in His fullness, with all people. He continues to share Himself with all of us every time we listen to and receive His Living Word: The Living Word of His very life. Like Jesus travelled from village to village, he desires to visit the village of your mind and heart. He wants to seek you out and bring not only His words of eternal life, but also His very self. Are we willing to be ministered to by Jesus? Do we allow Him to speak to us with clarity and truth?
In the Gospel, we also see the method of Jesus’ public ministry. They are Prayer, Preaching the Gospel, Healing the Sick and Casting out demons. We also need to follow this methodology if we are to be partakers in Jesus’ mission and to be his followers. In Prayer, we are to take time to be one with our God. Like the disciples, we are to go in search for Jesus. Not because Jesus is lost, rather, we are lost and need His help and guidance. In Preaching the Gospel, we through our life bear witness, rather than by empty words. In Healing and deliverance, We are called to be a soothing medicine to all around us. Jesus wants us to be a shoulder to those who are in pain, a son/daughter to the old abandoned in Homes for the aged.
Prayer: Lord, I seek You and am open to letting You seek me. Help me to be open to all that You wish to reveal to me and help me to receive You as the Living Gospel. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.