Something Better for Us
February 4, 2013
Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The world was not
worthy of them. They wandered about in
deserts and on mountains, in caves and in crevices in the earth. Yet all these, though approved because of their
faith, did not receive what had been promised.
God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should
not be made perfect. Hebrews
11:38-40
Night and day among
the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself
with stones. Catching sight of Jesus
from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a
loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” Mark 5:5-7
Piety
Take from me, Father, all that possesses me but keeps me
from walking with you. Give to me,
Jesus, all that leads me to pick up my cross daily and follow you. Set me free, Holy Spirit, from all the
obstacles to my friendship with you so that I may live my life for you. Amen.
Study
What's your favorite Biblical story? The Bible is filled with them. In fact, the Bible may be at its best when it
is re-telling and sharing the archetypical stories that make up salvation
history -- as opposed to when it delivers lists of rules.
Today's first reading reminds us of many of the key
characters in the Hebrew Bible whose stories touch our hearts and minds today
when we hear them. The follow-up Gospel story
about the man possessed recalls the sins that imprisoned all who came
before. Mark re-tells this story in such
a fashion to give Jesus ample opportunity to touch the possessed man's life and
have the cure resonate first in the hearts and minds of the community around
them in Gerasene. There the man was known
as an outcast from society, dominated by unclean spirits, living among the
tombs. The prostration before Jesus indicates Jesus’ power over evil spirits. Jesus acting with his power over the evil
spirits transferred them into the swine and then into the sea.
After this exorcism, the man wanted to stay with Jesus
(presumably as a disciple). Jesus did
not allow that. Jesus had something
better in mind for him. Jesus instructed
the man to return to his family and share the good news of his healing
cure.
Action
What is your story? What
possesses you? What part of Jesus do you
bring into the world? What is His plan
for you to do with that?
No comments:
Post a Comment