Sunday, February 06, 2011

Immediately

February 7, 2011

Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." Thus evening came, and morning followed--the first day. Genesis 1:3-5

As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Mark 6:54-55

Piety
Govern everything by your wisdom, O Lord, so that my soul may always be serving you
in the way you will
and not as I choose.
Let me die to myself so that I may serve you;
let me live to you who are life itself.
Amen.
St. Teresa Of Avila

Study
Sunday’s first reading (Isaiah 58) and Gospel (Matthew 5) set the stage for this theme of light and it continues today and this week.

Light was the first thing God created in Genesis. In the current winter of our restlessness, the season where natural plants have entered a dormant (dead) stage, our days are marked by long hours of darkness. We spend more of these hours indoors, working and living and awaiting the coming longer, warmer days of spring. As we mark our days through Lent and into the Easter season, the hours of light get longer and warmer.

When you light a candle outside on a summer night, watch as the insects, mosquitoes, moths and other flying bugs are drawn to the light. They are attracted by the light in the darkness. Maybe some are attracted by the warmth that is thrown off by the light. Whatever the reason, the light attracts living things like a magnet attracts metal shavings.

Where ever Jesus travelled, people were drawn to him just like living things are drawn to the light. We need light to read and understand what we can learn about Jesus. We need light in order to see the light. The operative word in today’s Gospel is immediately. They did not wait for the word to spread. They flocked to Jesus without hesitation.

Mark’s Gospel is filled with examples of the kinds of people attracted to the light, life and warmth of Jesus. Good people and people possessed with evil spirits turned to Jesus. Jews and Gentiles. Romans and Pharisees. Some had nefarious motives like trying to trap him in some dubious theological arguments. Others just sought healing for themselves or for their family and friends.

Action
What is it about Jesus that attracts you to the Christian-Catholic faith?

What is it about faith that makes you hesitate?