“All these people came to Jesus because they had heard of the things he was doing.” (Mk 3:8)

“All these people came to Jesus because they had heard of the things he was doing.” (Mk 3:8) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 3:7-12; Heb 7:25, 8:1-6

Meditation: Daily meditation is just like looking at the mirror and realizing ourselves; it helps us to know and improve ourselves. Today’s meditation verse surely guides us in this direction. The word of the Lord says, “All these people came to Jesus because they had heard of the things he was doing.” (Mk 3:8) Where are they from? They are from the whole of Palestine and the neighboring countries; more than four kilometers away.

What did they come for? They have come all the way over to hear the word of God and to be healed by God. Today also we find places where people are crowded over to hear the word of God and to be healed. However, there arises a point to reflect upon as to how they came to know about Jesus. Our meditation verse underlines, “because they had heard of the things he was doing.” This seems to be somewhat old-fashioned for the modern world.

Modern time’s language is almost that of conquering, defeating, making the other slave. On the highways, during night the two Wheeler are afraid of the halogens of the new four wheelers; in the churches and retreat centers, people are in a way forced to hear the sound not the message, not the music but the ear-breaking volume of the music system; and through the ads of the visual media people are becoming more and more slaves than masters. Even the mass conventions and protests prove themselves paid ones and controlled by the event management groups.

It is in this context we reflect on “all these people came to Jesus because they had heard of the things he was doing.” (Mk 3:8) Let the people be attracted primarily by the quality of our activities and ministries, not by our marketing skills, nor by our money power. God values above all our faithfulness to the ministries entrusted than the success connected to it. Whenever I am asked about the number of beneficiaries of my service or ministry, I used to tell that it is also the faithfulness to the call that matters.          

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. In this world of big ads and marketing, Lord, help us, with the help of your Holy Spirit, to do our duties and ministries that are entrusted to us silently and faithfully. Let us also learn to believe in your promise, “Your father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.” (Mt 6:18)  We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Have a blissful Thursday!