The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, January 8, 2002
Tuesday after Epiphany
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 4:7-10
Psalm 72:1-4,7-8
Mark 6:34-44
A Reflection on Scripture from Christmas Mass during the day:
Like sheep without a shepherd. (see Mark 6:34)
Jesus took pity on the large crowd that had gathered to hear Him because
they were like sheep without a shepherd. What a familiar scenario. What
Jesus saw is people hungering for the word of God. They were dying of thirst
in the desert of sin and secularity and turning every way they could to find
God.
The same is true today. People are clamoring to hear about God. They turn to
New Age Healers, and Native American Religious Rituals. They study Tantric
Meditation, Transcendental Meditation, Buddhism, and Scientology. All of
this useless activity is thrashing about searching for God. The problem is
that God is standing right there, arms open, waiting to greet each and every
seeker. He is as plain as the nose on their own faces. Yet many say, "That
was okay for two-thousand years ago, but it isn't our way today." Or
"Christians are just so uptight and self-righteous."
Jesus no longer gets off a boat to enter the crowd. He counts on us for
that. We bring Jesus to each person in the way we behave. So now, we must do
as Jesus told his Apostles. "You yourselves give them some food." The
Catholic Church offers the hungry searcher the Bread of Life. The Word of
God in the Holy Bible offers food for those starved of God. Both of these
are available to all who seek them. Let us invite someone to Mass or to our
small bible-study group. Or let us share our favorite bible passage, or the
readings for the day from Mass, over lunch. We don't need to preach. The
Word of God will speak for itself. We merely need to offer it to all who
seek it without knowing.
- JuandelaCruz, TOC ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
