THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday of the fourth week in ordinary time, 2022

2Sam 15: 13-14, 30; 16:5-13

Ps 3

Mark 5: 1-20

St John Bosco

Go home to your friends

Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate the memorial of St John Bosco. Born into a peasant family in Piedmont, he was raised by his widowed mother. After his ordination, he settled in Turin and devoted his life to the care of the young. He organized training and education for them despite many difficulties. He founded a congregation of St Francis de Sales to carry on his work. At a time he had up to 800 young people under his care. He is the Patron Saint of Youths. He is a great example of how faith can move someone to dedicate the self to the service of all without thinking of personal gain.

In todays’ Gospel, taken from Mark 5:1-20, Jesus came into the region of the Gerasenes, and out of the tombs came a demoniac whose condition, was described here by the evangelist, as beyond redemption. Abandoned and forsaken, left to his predicament, since no one could cure him and it had become impossible to chain him down, for any form of cure. The man roamed freely among the tombs. He was living but in the land of the dead. By human reckoning, his situation was beyond redemption. The demoniac himself on encountering Jesus had asked, “What have you to do with me Jesus, Son of the Highest God?” Even the devil in him recognized Jesus, whom the people failed to recognize.

The miracle worked by Jesus for the man, could be equated to raising someone from the dead. The herd of swine took the brunt of the healing, as about two thousand animals, charged down into the river and were drowned. That was the extent of the affliction of the man. The herdsmen fled, who wouldn’t? The villagers begged Jesus to leave their neighborhood. They were scared of what might come next. Even the man who was delivered from the demons begged to follow Jesus. Who wouldn't want to leave that environment, before the demons return to ruin him completely? But a new mission awaited the man, as Jesus told him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 

People often complain and ask about what they have not received. Many fail to number what they have already. Our insatiable nature makes it easy to forget so soon what God has done for us. Daily you kneel to pray for new things, how often are you also giving thanks, for that which you have received. Are you always talking to your friends and family about what you are looking for? Do you remember to talk to them about what you have received? Sit with your family and friends this week, count your blessings, name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Let us pray: Lord God we give you thanks for the many and varied gifts you have bestowed upon us, grant us also a grateful heart to put into proper use what you have given. Amen. 

+Remain blessed