Jesus is life and is life-giving

Listening to the Spirit

Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.

He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.

Great is our LORD and mighty in power;
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.

(Ps 147)

Listening to the Word

Mk 1: 29–39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in- law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Reflection

I was nine years old, and together with my classmates, we used to attend catechism classes after school. One day our parish priest, Fr. Herman, gave us a pocket edition of the Gospel. It had a red covert and on it the image of Jesus standing and holding an open book displaying in big characters the words: "I am the Way the Truth and the Life." That illustration made the book appealing to me. Those words have been with me ever since, and I had them engraved in the baptismal font printed on the baptismal certificate of the parish.

Jesus is life and is life-giving. Sometimes it happens that we are not in the best shape; something is not ok with us for some reason both within us and in the world around us.

We can grow tired, sad, and sick too; it is as if life is being taken away from us. When we recognize Jesus' passing by, our anxiety, problems, our demons disappear, we move on with new energy and hope. Jesus Mission is that of offering us life in abundance bringing us closer to the Father who created us.

If we are disciples, ask ourselves if we are bringing life to people whom we meet or if we have the courage to seek help from others for: "He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons."

Loving Father, thank you for reaching out to us through the life of your Son, Jesus; in Him, you make us fully alive.

Make us always looking for Him and draw in abundance from the source of life.

Enable us to share, in the power of your Spirit your gift, especially with those who do not call upon the name of whom you sent as our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.