Sparkles of Light (Mk 3:7-12)

19 January 2012, Thursday, 2^nd Week of the Year 

WHY DO YOU FOLLOW JESUS?

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.

Mk 3:7-12

Today’s Gospel is a simple description on how popular Jesus was.  It tells us about the multitude of people who were following Jesus.  This large number of people came from many places.  There were from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idulmea, Jordan, Tyre and Sidon.  All were following Jesus because of the physical and spiritual healing that he has done.  Perhaps there were so many who followed him that “he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him.”

My friends, we are no different from the crowd during the time of Jesus.  With the many things that are happening around us, we usually “follow” these trends.  We attend different events such as business opportunities or leadership workshops to hopefully increase our efficiency in our endeavours.  We keep track of celebrities or personalities which may on one hand bring us entertainment or on the other hand the intrigues which they usually deny.  We take a visit at the electronic store to have a feel of that new gadget that promises better features than the previous one.  We follow our friends and acquaintances on Twitter and Facebook which somehow brings about a personal sense of connection and belongingness to us.  We are like the crowd because we seem to be searching for many things.  We are constantly searching.  What are you searching for?

At this time of technological advancement and economic progress, miracles and healing come as a surprise and interest.  This must be the feeling of the crowd during the time of Jesus.  Whenever we hear that someone heals in the name of Jesus; we would all go there and see and experience it for ourselves as they say: “To see is to believe.”  If we could see the miracle and healing unfolding right before our very eyes, then we believe, then we have faith.  Are you one of those?  On the other hand there’s that silent majority who follow Jesus not because of his miracles and healings. They follow Him for the simple reason that they felt it in their hearts their need for Jesus, immaterial of His miracles and healings.  Are you one of those?

                Miracles and healing do happen.   They happen because we have faith in Jesus.  It may not be what we expect, like a total cure from a disease or reconciliation with our hurtful past, but it is there.  It happens without us knowing it, without us seeing it.  We just have to believe.  We believe that in God’s time and grace, he answers our prayers in the way that is for us.  Like the crowd that were following Jesus; some came to be cured and healed; some came just to be a spectator; some came because they believe.  Yet still many can’t see who Jesus was.  Even those with unclean spirits “would fall down before him and shout, ‘You are the Son of God.’”  Why can’t the others see this despite what Jesus was doing?     

My friends we are like the people from Idumea, or Tyre or Sidon. We want to know Jesus, just like some desired.  We have come from all directions to meet him again or to learn about him for the first time. We've heard about his words of life, his healings, the way he extends new boundaries of freedom, and that he radically cares for each person he meets and liberates us from our deep, dark, muckiness. His only desire is for us to come to know the God he calls Abba so we can know the steadfast love of God for us.  So, why are you following Jesus?  If you follow Jesus because you love him and have faith in him, then you are in the right track.