“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
12th January 2018.
------------------------------------------------
FRIDAY, FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Reading 1: 1 Sam 8:4-7,10-22 Israel demands a King from their own, rejecting the reign of God.
Res. Psalm: Ps 88: 16-19 Happy the people who acclaim you Lord as King, those who walk in the light of your face.
Gospel: Mk 2:1-12 Jesus heals a lame man who is lowered down from the roof.
------------------------------------------------
WHEN GOD IS SILENT
Today we come to one of the turning points in Israel’s history: the people demand a king. Samuel resists, for he realizes that their demand is an admission of national lack of faith in Yahweh. They want to be like other nations, and Yahweh grants their request, but not without warning them of the price they will have to pay, as a result of their choice Freedom is a risk that God wanted to take, for he knew that if we were not free to sin, we would not be free to love. And that freely given love was what God wanted above all else.
Jesus drew people to Himself. There were so many people coming to Jesus that there was no room for everyone, not even around the door to the house He was in. We can be certain that those who came to listen to Him, even if they could not get in, were greatly rewarded for their faith. It reveals that the spiritual longing to be near Jesus was, in and of itself, transforming. Likewise, we may find that we long to hear Jesus speak to us, but cannot seem to hear Him. It may be that He appears silent to us or that we do not know where to find Him. But do not be disheartened if this is your experience. The fact of the matter is that your desire to be with Him is itself a great gift and has potential to transform your life. We should realize that this is a way for God to call us even closer to Himself. It’s a way for God to whisper so as to gain our full attention. In such times, turn your attention to our Lord all the more intensely and allow the desire for Him to grow. It is this desire to be near Jesus that may actually produce much greater fruit in your life than if you were to hear Him loud and clear.
In the Gospel, the healing of a paralytic brings opposition to Jesus. Jesus who is powerful in both word and deed, his power to forgive sins is confirmed by his power to heal the paralyzed man. Jesus who is the Messiah, the true Ruler and King of Israel, the Son of God is rejected. In our lives too, we are happy to be in the bondage of sin, power, possession and pleasure, rather than be in freedom from them. We are willing to let go of eternal happiness for something temporary and immediate. Today, Jesus asks you to choose Him over your closest desire and aspiration. Do you have the faith to reject all for Jesus? Do you have the desire to get closer to Jesus?
Prayer: Lord, please increase within me a desire to be near You. Help me to long for You with all my heart. In that longing, help me to shed all that is not of You and to give You my full attention. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.