19 January, 2023 | Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mk 3: 7-12

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.

A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.

Hearing what he was doing,

a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,

from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,

and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.

He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,

so that they would not crush him.

He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases

were pressing upon him to touch him.

And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him

and shout, “You are the Son of God.”

He warned them sternly not to make him known.

Reflection: 

Withdrawing away from constant crowd seems such legitimate need to me, as I am a person who profoundly feel renewed and replenished by time of solitude. At times, being alone in the quiet could be the most cherished communion. What Jesus never compromised even in the busiest of ministries was His profound communion with the Father from time to time. The experience of being constantly with the crowd and trying to reach out to their needs can be exhausting; especially if they need your attention all the time and your giving seems never enough. We need to fill our own cups from time to time, for we can’t pour from an empty cup. Another important point to ponder is that it is not enough to just know Jesus, for even the demons know Him. What counts is our personal relationship with Jesus.

Action Plan: 

 Set aside time to do something that refreshes/renews yourself in all aspects of your life.