“They begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as they touched it were healed.” (Mk 6:56)

“They begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as they touched it were healed.” (Mk 6:56)

Today’s Passages: Mk 6:53-56; Gen 1:1-19

Meditation: Today’s meditation verse manifests the compassionate love of Jesus for humankind. Really people were looking for a shepherd who will really take care of them; who will heed to their prayers. For, God had promised such a shepherd through the prophet: “I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.” (Jer 3:15) In the person of Jesus they recognized the promised shepherd of God.

This good shepherd is God himself for John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.” (Jn 1:1-3) It is about this creator and creation we heard in the first reading. “Then God said, ‘let there be light’ and there was light. God how good the light was.’” (Gen 1:3-4a) After each day’s creation we hear the same refrain again and again: “God saw how good it was.”

And “this Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:14) Now God is no more a transcendent one, but the one whom they could see, hear, and touch. John in his letter says, “We write to you about the word of life, which has existed from the very beginning. We have heard it, and we have seen it with our eyes; yes we have seen it, and our hands have touched it.” (1 Jn 1:1)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb 13:8) He continues to be the creator even today among us. Yesterday Pope Francis tweeted: “Jesus is not a figure from the past; he continues now and always to light the way for us!” The second reading underlines this fact as it says, “They begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as they touched it were healed.” (Mk 6:56) Whoever touched Jesus were healed and created anew.

Seeing these creation activities of Jesus, the people were completely amazed: “How well he does everything!” (Mk 7:37) An appreciation the creator had toward his creation is repeated through the words of creature today toward creator! 

            

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. O God the creator, we give you thanks and praise for your compassionate love toward us. You alone are our redeemer and comforter.  Help us to hearken to you in all our needs than to any other in the world. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blissful Monday!