THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Saturday in the Second Week in Ordinary time, 2022

2 Sam 1:1-4.11-12.19.23-27

Ps 80

Mark 3:20-21

The Sad End

Dear friends in Christ, there are times when the adversaries may turn against a person to distract him from his mission, but there are also times when it comes from friends. Today’s gospel presents a situation where the friends of Jesus on hearing of how busy he has been on his schedule concluded there was something wrong with him and reported so to his family.

Our reading today records the sad end to the life and rule of Saul which also claimed the life of his son and friend of David, Jonathan. Even at that, David sang their praises and questioned why this must happen, “Your glory O Israel, is slain upon your high places! How are the mighty fallen! Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely…” David’s greatness is not only in the manner he defeated his enemies like Goliath but also in the way he treated those who hated him and would stop at nothing to destroy him like Saul. That’s also the lesson of the Cross where Jesus prayed to the Father, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” How many today pray to God to destroy their perceived enemies or those they feel do not wish them well?

In today's Gospel (Mark 3:20-21) we see a remarkable situation in the life of Jesus. He was so caught up in his ministry, that he and his disciples could not even eat. They had too many people to attend to. It was so serious as Mark puts it, “When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him, for they said, ‘He is beside himself.’” This must-have presented a very embarrassing situation for those who came in search of Jesus. To think that he must be made to work the way he did, they thought he could no longer help himself, and they needed to do something to prevent further damage. As a member of his family or a friend, how do you explain that he closed down his carpenter’s shop to become a street preacher, how do you accept him saying he is the fulfillment of the prophecies? However, this is the mission of Jesus, to save humanity and restore all to a good relationship with God. He came for your sake.

Let us pray: O God, renew your grace in us that we may follow you more closely in all we do and say. Amen. 

+Remain blessed