SAVIOUR’S METHOD IN DEALING WITH INDIVIDUAL SOULS – HEALING THE BLIND- FEBRUARY 16TH WEDNESDAY (8: 22-26)

1. He isolates from the disturbing influences: The gossips and scheming politicians of Bethsaida, notoriety and the sense of importance. By his dealing with the sinner in conviction and repentance, he spiritually removes him to his own retirement. He is first brought to be with Christ, and then by and by he may be in Him.
2. By personal contact and operation and by kindly words, the inner free will and power of the patient were evoked. The gradual realization of spiritual power in these being saved is a crucial evidence of Divine grace, and encourages belief in the ultimate accomplishment of a complete salvation.
3. He enacts implicit obedience: This was the highest exercise of a spiritual kind he had demanded. Having won the trust and confidence of his people, he proves and perfects that by directing the fulfillment of duties, the reason for which may not be apparent.
4. We see that the man regained sight and reported that he saw human beings, but he does not see properly, an initial response to a curing activity also found in Hellenistic world. Then Jesus again lays his hands upon the man’s eyes. This action results in an intense gaze from the man.
5. Jesus orders him not to go back to the village from where he took him along. He does not want to create a false messianic expectation among the people. He is not a person who opts for cheap popularity.

We are living in an instant culture. We want to achieve everything in a short span of time. We have several instant cooking products being marketed. We want to achieve everything immediately without any effort. This mentality is okay to a certain extent when it concerns cooking and other material realities but we cannot have the same mentality in spiritual matters. We seek God’s grace and want it immediately. When there is a delay we lose our faith and begin to question God. Jesus is teaching a great lesson through this miracle. He does not heal the blind man immediately; he takes a bit of time. We need to be patient and need to persevere in our faith without becoming a prey to this instant culture.

Courtesy

The Pulpit Commentary

The Gospel of Mark – A Commentary

FEEDING THE MULTITUDE FOR THE SECOND TIME – FEBRUAY 12TH SATURDAY (Mk 8: 1-10)

Christ’s attractive ministry: A great multitude followed him to listen to his teaching and were so absorbed in his words that they neglected their bodily wants. Eating of the spiritual bread, they were satisfied in their souls, but they had bodily wants also.

Christ’s considerate compassion: Jesus himself was touched with a feeling of human infirmities. He had known hunger. People had come from far, and they had remained in neighbourhood for three days. All this little provisions were exhausted. Is He going to send them away fasting? He had compassion not only on their souls but also in their bodies.

Christ’s use of ordinary Human Resources: Jesus might doubtless have created bread of stones, as the tempter had once challenged him to do. But he chose to use what provisions were at hand. The Lord does not despise, dispense with, human means or human agencies. He asked his disciples to distribute the food.

Christ’s devoutness in thanksgiving: Being himself the son of the Father, he yet, in the name of the dependent children, acknowledged the bounty and beneficence of the giver of all.

Christ’s Frugality and Economy: The Lord was liberal but not lavish. There was no wastage in his arrangements. The broken pieces that remained were gathered and doubtless saved and used.

Every mother takes pride, pleasure and fulfillment in feeding her children. She knows, when her child would be hungry and she also knows what food to give. I have not come across a mother who denies food for her child, even if the child does behave badly. Even if she is dying of hunger, she would not desire to eat before feeding her children. Today we see, Jesus feeling the pinch of hunger, his people experienced. None of them asked for food but He knows that they are to be fed. He multiples the bread and feeds a mass gathering. As a human Jesus is also hungry but He would have eaten only after every one of his children ate to their fill. As we admire the maternal or motherly aspect of Jesus, shall we try to admire Godly aspects in our mothers?

Courtesy

The Pulpit Commentary

EATING WITH UNCLEAN HANDS – FEBRUARY 8TH – MONDAY (Mk 7: 1-13)

1. It is crucial to note that only some of the disciples were behaving in this fashion. If some were eating in a manner that could be judged as defiled, some were not. There is a division among the disciples.

2. Returning from the dirt, hustle and bustle of a first –century marketplace, one required purification, but there is no indication that a tradition of the elders was involved. Leviticus does not strictly speak on these laws.

3. We need to understand this term ‘tradition of the elders’. The Jews had 10 commandment and certain rules and regulations from Pentateuch, the first 5 books of the Bible. In 5^th and 4^th century BC there came a group of people called Scribes who started exemplifying and multiplying the laws. These laws were not written but were vogue through oral tradition. These rules were come to be known as tradition of elders.

4. What is Corban? The word meant a gift. It was used to describe something which was specially dedicated to God. If someone wishes to dedicate some of his money or his property to God, he declared it Corban, and therefore it might never again be used for any ordinary or secular purpose. Many sons and daughters made use of this Corban to free them from the duty of taking care of their parents.

5. Jesus was attacking a system which totally failed to respect human dignity and human relationships. People in power managed to manipulate even the Ten Commandments and made it to serve their selfish motives.

One thing that struck me about today’s gospel is the knowledge Jesus possessed. He kept himself abreast with the Scripture and traditions. He knows the history of the evolution of Jewish faith. We cannot confront people if we do not have certain degree of intellectual ascendency. Jesus always won arguments and put his opponents in tight corners. As Christians we need to know what is happening around the world. We need to be well read and well informed about the key issues that affect our faith life as well as our life as citizens.

Courtesy

William Barclay The New Daily Study Bible

The Gospel of Mark a Commentary – Francis Moloney

GET SAVED – FEBRUARY 7TH –MONDAY (Mark 6:53-56)

⁵³ When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. ⁵⁴ When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, ⁵⁵ and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

1. This passage is the summary of the previous episodes. Jesus is recognized by the people and they run about the district, bringing sick people to him, wherever he might be.

2. This episode also brings the contrast between the people who recognize Jesus as the bearer of a unique power and authority and the disciples who cried out in fear due to their lack of faith. People believed firmly that even by touching the fringe of the garment they can be healed.

3. The first step to healing is recognizing Jesus. The people recognized Jesus. They recognized two things. A) They recognized that Jesus had come to their land and was now present at hand, available to make them and their loved ones whole. B) They recognized that Jesus cared for the sick and that he had the power to make them whole.

4. The second step to healing is acknowledging one’s need and believing Jesus can help. People came along with their families and friends. They even spread the word about Jesus to strangers. People were desperately searching for Him since they acknowledged His power and might.

5. The third step to healing is asking unashamedly and unreservedly for Jesus’ help. The people asked and begged Jesus to let them simply touch the ‘edge of His cloak’.

Today I had an opportunity to have a chat with two of my friends in their house, who are also readers of my Gospel Reflections Daily. We had a good discussion on Jesus and the Catholic faith. They were telling me that our God is someone really big and we do not really understand His true greatness. Christians are not basically suffering servants rather we are people born to win. Our God has always given us victory even from the time of Exodus. Somehow we have contained Him and are living with a pessimistic attitude. We need to have big faith, big hope and big trust that our Lord will never let us down and will always give us the victory come what may.

Courtesy

The Preacher’s Outline and the Sermon Bible

The Gospel of Mark A Commentary – Francis Moloney SDB

BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST – FEAST OF JOHN DE BRITTO – FEBRUARY 4TH –FRIDAY (Mk 6: 14-29)

1. John de Britto was one of the three notable missionaries of the Madurai mission in the last thirty years of the 17^th century. His martyrdom came about like this. He happened to baptize a sick nobleman of Marava, who had five wives. The man had to send away four of them. The youngest was the niece of the Raja of Marava. She appealed to him with tears. Britto was arrested and executed at Oriyur on 4 February 1693.

2. According to Josephus the renowned Historian, Herod killed the Baptist because he was afraid of a rebellion by the people. For Mark, John the Baptist is put to death by a ruler who recognized that he was a righteous and holy man but succumbed to public pressure.

3. John the Baptist would not give in weakly to pressure, even from one who recognized his virtues. He stood by His God-given task, preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins. John’s judgment of Herod’s marriage is a public call that sinfulness be recognized.

4. This is the only episode in the Gospel that does not have Jesus at its center, which points forward to Jesus’ death. There are so many similarities between Jesus and John the Baptist. Jesus does not give into public pressure, not even to save his life, but boldly announces the present and future coming of God as king which would flow from his self-gift unto death.

5. There are also differences between them. John the Baptist was killed, but was carried by this disciples and was buried. There is nothing spoken about his resurrection, whereas Jesus died, was abandoned by the disciples but was taken care by Arimathea who should have been his enemy. Jesus has been raised after his death.

I was personally struck by the similarities between John the Baptist (JB) and John de Britto (JB) starting from their very names. Both spoke the truth and wanted to correct the irregularities of marriage. John the Baptist condemned Herod for living with his brother’s wife and Britto ensured that the Christians follow monogamy. Both John the Baptist and John de Britto fought against immorality and both were beheaded by their respective rulers. Let us learn to speak the truth even at the cost of grave inconveniences.

Courtesy

Short History of Christianity in India by Joseph Thekkedath SDB

The Gospel of Mark, A Commentary