Moments With The Gospel The Mustard Seed.

Moments With The Gospel.

Moments With The Gospel Icon.

Today is Friday of Third Week of Ordinary Time.  The Church offers us this Gospel. I was meditating on the Gospel of the parable about the Mustard seed this morning and the phrase "the mustard seed'  caught my attention.  I was curious to find out more about the mustard seed and what it might reveal. Let us explore further. 

The mustard seed, while famously small, possesses several qualities that make it a powerful image in Jesus’ parable:

1. Rapid Growth 

Once planted the mustard seed grows quickly and vigorously, becoming a large plant or even a tree-like shrub. This symbolizes how the Kingdom of God starts small but expands beyond expectation.

2. Resilience and Hardiness

Mustard plants can thrive in various conditions and are highly adaptable. They don’t require deep soil; they can grow even in rocky or dry soil, which makes them a symbol of faith that can take root and flourish even in difficult circumstances.

3. Expansiveness and Influence 
A mustard seed doesn’t just grow—it spreads. It can take over an area, much like faith spreads from a single person to influence many.
So while mustard seeds don’t require deep soil, they do need space to grow, much like faith—small at first but expansive when nurtured. As I meditated on these features of the mustard seed I reflected on my how my faith like the mustard seed, takes root, spreads and becomes a refuge for others.
How does these added qualities of the Mustard seed expand me and help us grow in our relationship with God and with one another?

4. Provides Shelter and Nourishment

When fully grown, the mustard plant becomes large enough for birds to nest in its branches (Mark 4:32). This reflects how the Kingdom of God provides refuge, protection, and sustenance.

5. Requires Surrender to Growth

The seed must be buried in the earth and die to itself to sprout and grow. This echoes the call to surrender in faith, trusting in God’s transformative power.

6. Not a Majestic Tree, but a Humble Plant

Mustard plants are not like the mighty cedars of Lebanon; they are simple, everyday plants. This reminds us that God’s Kingdom grows in ways that defy human expectations, often through humility and simplicity.

Collect series: Third Sunday Ordinary Time

COLLECT SERIES

COLLECT 

COLLECT SERIES

 

COLLECT

 

The Collect for Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God,

direct our actions according to your good pleasure,

that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What are the actions I need to take today/this week to direct my actions according to His Good pleasure?

2. Why should our good works be done in the name of Jesus?

3. What actions in my life either intermittently or ongoing are not according to God’s good pleasure?  What will I do to address this issue this coming week?

4. What are good works?  Why not examine the corporal and spiritual works of mercy that the church provides us as a guide.  https://cgcatholic.org.au/catholic-voice/blog/the-spiritual-and-corporal-works-of-mercy/

5.. What are my spiritual goals for 2022- for this month, this week, today?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today’s Gospel is from Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21.  Year C is the year of reading Luke’s Gospel but we have already had last week an interruption with a Gospel from St John.  Today’s Gospel starts at the beginning of Luke’s Gospel and then jumps to chapter 4.  The reason for this is that we have heard during Christmastide Chapters 1-3 as these are the infant narratives.

Luke’s Gospel has 3 features for us to keep in mind throughout the year:

1. It is an orderly account- chronological from the infancy narratives to the death and resurrection of Christ.

2. It is geographical account- moving from the countryside and finishing in Jerusalem with the death and resurrection of Christ.

3. It is a theological account: By this I mean that Luke is at pains to explain to us throughout his gospel account that Jesus was not only the promise but the fulfillment of the promise.  Today’s gospel account where Jesus is reading from the prophet of Isaiah exemplifies this as Jesus after He rolls up the scroll says’ This text is being fulfilled even as you listen’.

 We may wish to ask ourselves how this text is being fulfilled as we listen today’.

The Lord sent me to bring good news to the poor: Who are the poor in my life that I can bring good news to this coming week? What is the good news I need to hear to nourish the poor in me?

To proclaim liberty to captives:  Who are the captives in my life that I have in my influence to provide liberty?  Freeing someone who is sad by a smile or a comforting word or helping parishioners, family members, work colleagues, neighbours.  For example, my neighbour has had her daughter stay with her.  The daughter has now gone home and my neighbour is very tired.  My way of giving her some liberty from this tiredness and her heaviness is to provide a few meals for her.  It is tricky because I don’t want this to be a burden for her thinking she has to reciprocate. There are so many ways we can proclaim liberty to captives with the people we meet, know, who cross our path. What will you do this week?

To the blind new sight: Donations either regularly or a one off payment to organisations which deal with the blind would be one way to give blind new sight.

I had major problems with my eyes a couple years ago so I have come to appreciate the value of my eyesight even more.  I guess up to then I took my eyes for granted.  Thanking God for our senses and acknowledging how much we appreciate these senses is in itself new sight, especially if you were like me and took them for granted and failed miserably to thank God for them.

We may also wish to ask God for new sight in the areas in our lives where we are spiritually blind or emotionally blind. We need to be honest and ask God to show us our blind spots and help us to overcome them with His guidance and love. What areas of blindness will I ask God to assist me this coming week?

To set the downtrodden free: Looking up a Thesaurus for the word downtrodden came up with the following options: oppressed, Subjugated, persecuted, subdued, repressed, tyrannized, ground down, crushed, enslaved, burdened, weighed down., exploited, disadvantaged, underprivileged, victimized, bullied, browbeaten, under the heel, powerless, helpless, prostrate, abused, misused, maltreated.

Who are the people in my life that I meet, know or may not know personally but can help through an appropriate organisation this coming week to help to set the downtrodden free.  It is worth considering how you might help children to do this as well.  Is a child being bullied in the classroom? How important is it to try to be friends with a child who does not make friends easily?  How can my children show good example and in their own way put this gospel ideal into practice.  We as adults need to help them think about it and maybe give them suggestions and help them to come up with their own ways to put this ideal into practice.

 To proclaim a year The Lord’s year of favour:  2025 Is Jubilee Year. Every 25 Years  are a jubilee year which in fact brings many blessings because it is a year of favour.  However, every moment of every day is a year of ‘favour from the Lord’. We need to be in that mindset to accept the blessing.   We are almost at the end of the first month of the year but we can thank God for the blessings He has already provided us so far this year. 

Suggested Activity: Start a blessing or gratitude journal  In this blessing or gratitude journal jot down as many blessings you can remember.  Then each day at the end of the day, jot the blessings you have received throughout the day.  Imagine how many we will have over the whole year.  Hand over the year to the Lord and ask Him to proclaim a year of favour for you and you, in your turn will proclaim Him to others. Why not do a family blessing journal for each family to add in their blessings each day.  If we decide to take up this idea, it is good to review the blessings each week or to read out the blessings from the day before before or after a meal.

 

 

 

 

 

Moments With The Gospel: The Man with the Withered Hand.

 Moments With The Gospel

Moments with the Gospel  Series Icon.

Today is Wednesday of Second Week of Ordinary Time.  The Church offers us this Gospel.

I was meditating on the Gospel of the man with the withered hand this morning and the phrase "the withered hands" caught my attention.  I pondered what this might have meant for the man concerned and what the modern day equivalent might . Let us explore further.

The Man with the Withered Hand.

What was a withered hand in the time of Jesus?

In the time of Jesus, a withered hand likely referred to a hand that was paralyzed, deformed, shrivelled, or had lost function due to disease, injury, or congenital disability. It could have been caused by conditions such as nerve damage, polio, muscular atrophy, arthritis, or a birth defect. In biblical times, having such a condition would have been socially and economically challenging, especially in a society where most labour was manual.

Modern-Day Equivalent

Today, the equivalent of a "withered hand" would be a hand affected by paralysis, stroke, cerebral palsy, severe arthritis, muscular dystrophy, or an injury leading to permanent nerve damage or muscle atrophy. Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or Dupuytren’s contracture could also lead to a loss of function in the hand, though they are often treatable with modern medicine.

If Jesus healed a person with a withered hand today, it might be similar to restoring full function to someone with a paralyzed or deformed limb due to neurological damage, accident, or illness—a miraculous and life-changing event.

 

Why does Jesus not engage with the man like other healing parables?

 In the healing of the man with the withered hand (Mark 3:1-6, Matthew 12:9-14, Luke 6:6-11), Jesus does not engage in a personal conversation with the man like He does in other healing accounts (such as the blind man in John 9 or the paralytic in Mark 2). Instead, He simply tells the man:

“Stretch out your hand.”

And as the man obeys, his hand is restored.

Why Doesn’t Jesus Engage More?

Here are some key reasons:

1. The Healing is Not About the Man, But About the Pharisees

Unlike other healings where Jesus engages with the person’s faith or suffering, this healing is more about the hardness of the Pharisees’ hearts than the man’s condition. The main conflict in this passage is not the man’s ailment, but the Pharisees’ legalism—their belief that healing on the Sabbath was a violation of the Law.

Jesus deliberately performs the miracle in public and on the Sabbath, knowing that the Pharisees are watching and waiting to accuse Him. By not engaging in a conversation, He avoids any distraction from His main point: “Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath?” (Mark 3:4). His focus is on exposing the hypocrisy of those who prioritize rigid laws over human suffering.

2. The Man’s Faith is Demonstrated Through Action, Not Words

In many other healing stories, people cry out for Jesus’ help (e.g., Bartimaeus the blind man in Mark 10:46-52) or express their faith in words (e.g., the woman with the haemorrhage in Mark 5:25-34). But here, the man doesn’t ask for healing, and Jesus doesn’t ask about his faith. Instead, Jesus simply commands him to stretch out his hand.

This mirrors other moments in Scripture where faith is demonstrated through obedience rather than words—such as when Peter steps out of the boat to walk on water (Matthew 14:29). The man’s silent trust and obedience are enough, and his healing follows his action.

3. A Silent but Powerful Challenge

By not speaking much to the man, Jesus shifts the attention to the Pharisees' response. This healing is a challenge—will they recognize that God’s mercy surpasses their rigid interpretations of the Sabbath? The silence of the man contrasts with the hardened hearts of the Pharisees, who immediately conspire to destroy Jesus (Mark 3:6).

This healing is unique because it is a confrontation rather than a private moment of compassion. It forces a choice: Will we prioritize love and mercy, or will we cling to legalism and hardness of heart? The man stretches out his hand in obedience, but the Pharisees close their hearts in defiance.

It’s a powerful lesson—sometimes, Jesus’ greatest work in our lives doesn’t come through lengthy conversations but through simple acts of faith and obedience.

 

The Pharisees had withered hearts, and in a spiritual sense, their hands were withered too because they refused to do good. While the man in the synagogue had a physically withered hand, the Pharisees’ spiritual condition was far worse.

The Pharisees’ Withered Hearts

• The man’s withered hand prevented him from working, but the Pharisees’ withered hearts prevented them from loving and showing mercy.
• Instead of rejoicing in the man’s healing, they hardened their hearts and plotted against Jesus (Mark 3:6).
• Jesus' question—"Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath?" (Mark 3:4)—exposes their spiritual paralysis. They had the power to do good but refused.

Their Hands Were Also Withered

• A healthy hand is meant to serve, bless, and help.
• The Pharisees had the power to reach out in mercy, but instead, they withdrew their hands in bitterness and accusation.
• They sought to restrain the hand of Jesus.
• They wanted to stop Jesus from healing and halt the work of God, making their own hands as useless as the man's had been before Jesus healed him.
• Ironically, their hands were active only in destruction.
• After witnessing the healing, they immediately stretched out their hands to conspire against Jesus (Mark 3:6). Instead of using their hands for good, they used them for evil.

The Hand of Jesus

• In contrast, Jesus' hands bring life, healing, and restoration.
• His hands would later be pierced on the cross, becoming the ultimate symbol of love and sacrifice.
• After the Resurrection, Thomas sees the wounds in Jesus' hands, which proves that Jesus’ mission was to restore, not to destroy.

This moment in the synagogue reveals who is truly withered—not just the man with the physical disability, but those who resist the work of God. Jesus restores what is broken, but the Pharisees, blinded by their own pride, wither away in their rejection of Him.

The contrast between withered hands, withered hearts, and the hands of Jesus invites us to examine our own lives:

• Are our hands open to do good, or are they closed in resistance?
• Are our hearts softened by love, or hardened by pride and judgment?
• Do we trust in the healing touch of Jesus, or do we try to control and limit His work?

These questions challenge us, just as Jesus’ actions challenged the Pharisees. But the hope is this: Jesus can restore what is withered—whether it’s our hands, our hearts, or our faith.

Collect Series; second Sunday Ordinary Time Year C

 COLLECT SERIES

The Mass: Collect series Icon.

COLLECT

 

The Collect for Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God,

who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth,

mercifully hear the pleading of your people

and bestow your peace on our times.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Will I allow God to govern heaven and earth including my life this coming week/year?

2. What do I ask for myself and for others in my prayer life?

3. How do I incorporate the intercessory prayers from Mass into my prayer during the week?

4. How will I cooperate with God by bestowing peace in my family, at work, with those whom I meet this coming week?

5. What does living in Ordinary Time mean for my spiritual life this week? 

6. What are my spiritual goals for 2025- for this month, this week, today?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION  

Today’s Gospel is from Jn 2:1-11.  It may seem strange when Year C is the year of Luke which we started last Sunday, and then in the second Sunday, we read from John.

Today’s Gospel however is the Wedding feast of Cana.  There are some key moments in this Gospel:

1. Woman why turn to me, my hour has not come yet.
2. Do whatever He tells you.
3. The disciples believed in Him.

The Wedding Feast of Cana is the first miracle or first sign that Jesus shows His disciples. It is important because if highlights His identity.  Jesus was aware of the embarrassment that the young couple would have felt by running out of wine. In those days, weddings were celebrated for a week so running out of wine would have been a huge issue.   We may not run out of wine, but as we enter into this Gospel, we can reflect on our own embarrassments in our lives when we fall short in some way, knowing that Jesus in His great love for us is aware of our embarrassment and shame when we fall short in some way and is ready waiting to save us in a way we do not expect or even hope.

The word ‘woman’; may sound as though that Jesus is being dismissive of Mary.   However, the same word, was used in the garden of Eden and again when Mary is standing at the Cross. Mary is the new Eve and the hour came when Jesus died for our sins and was raised to life. 

 

Mary tells the servants to ‘Do whatever He tells you’.  It is important to reflect on this comment from Mary.  Let us put ourselves in the scene. Mary was a guest at the wedding not the bridegroom, or bride’s mother or a member of the wedding party. A guest- yet the servants did what Mary told them to do. They did not abuse her or tell her to mind her own business. They did not ignore what she said or listen politely to her face and ignored it later. What would we have done in the same situation?  What do we do now in our own lives? We may ask ourselves ‘do I do what Jesus asks of me”.

Finally, St John emphasises to us, the readers that the disciples believed in Him.  This is the first sign yet the disciples believed. In John’s account of this miracle, he does not indicate that the disciples were witnesses to the miracle. Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water. Yet it had turned into wine. 

 

The Wedding at Cana is exclusive to John’s Gospel, fitting his focus on the theological significance of Jesus’ signs and their role in revealing His glory. The Synoptics, while not mentioning Cana, include complementary themes of newness, transformation, and the Kingdom that align with the deeper meaning of the miracle at Cana.

1. New Wine as a Symbol of the Kingdom:

In the Synoptics, Jesus uses the metaphor of new wine to describe the transformative power of the Kingdom of God (e.g., Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37-39).  This aligns with the abundance and transformation symbolized by the wine at Cana.

2. Role of Mary:

In the Synoptics, Mary’s role is more focused on the Nativity (Matthew and Luke) and her presence at key moments of Jesus’ ministry (e.g., Mark 3:31-35). In John, her direct involvement at Cana underscores her intercessory role, which is not highlighted in the Synoptics.

3. Manifestation of Glory:

While the Synoptics include miracles to demonstrate Jesus’ authority and inspire faith, they don’t explicitly frame miracles as “manifestations of glory” (John 2:11). Instead, the Synoptics often portray miracles as responses to immediate needs.

4. Disciples' Faith:

In John 2:11, the miracle at Cana leads the disciples to believe in Jesus. In the Synoptics, belief often grows gradually as the disciples witness multiple miracles and teachings.

So returning our focus to the gospel, we may wish to zoom in on the following questions:

·         What impact does this gospel account have on me for my life today?  

·         What will I carry forward through Ordinary Time. 

 

As we listen to this gospel, and meditate upon it in our personal prayer time, let us reflect on this miracle and what it means for our lives today.  Let us turn inward and consider how this Gospel calls us to respond in our faith journey.

My refrain for this week’s Gospel reflection is:

‘Fill our empty jars Lord,

Fill them to the brim,

Help us to do what you ask of us

And leave the miracle to You’.

 

May you receive the miracle you need in your life this coming week.

 

Moments With The Gospel Mk 1:14-20

 Moments With The Gospel Series.

Moments With The Gospel Series Icon.

Mending the Nets. Mk1: 14-20.

Today is Monday of First Week of Ordinary Time.  The Church offers us this Gospel.

I was meditating on Mk 1:14-20 this morning and the phrase "mending their nets" in Mark 1:19 caught my attention.  I pondered what this might have meant for the disciples who were fishermen. Let us consider what this meant for them at a practical level.

:

Practical Context

1. Daily Maintenance: Fishing nets were essential tools for fishermen like James and John. Made of natural fibres, these nets would often fray, tear, or become tangled from constant use. Mending the nets involved:

• Repairing holes caused by sharp rocks, coral, or the weight of heavy fish.
• Untangling knots formed from improper storage or rough handling.
• Reweaving fibers to restore the net’s strength and functionality.
• Cleaning debris such as seaweed or rubbish that accumulated during fishing.

2. Necessity of Care: Without regular mending, the nets would fail, leading to lost fish and wasted effort. This task demonstrated diligence, foresight, and the fishermen's dependence on their tools for survival.

 

It provides a powerful image for reflection, both practically and spiritually. Let’s explore/

 

Spiritual Reflection

1. Symbol of Renewal: "Mending their nets" can symbolize the need for constant renewal in our spiritual lives. Just as nets are exposed to wear and tear, so too are we—through sin, struggles, or neglect of our faith.
2. Preparation for Mission: By leaving their nets to follow Jesus, the disciples were stepping into a new calling. Yet the act of mending might foreshadow their future role of "repairing" lives and communities through Christ's message. What is Jesus asking of me in the mending of the nets?
3. Signs of Brokenness: The brokenness of the nets mirrors human frailty. It highlights:

·         The effects of life's challenges that can leave us "torn."

·         Our need for Christ, the ultimate "mender," to restore and strengthen us.

·         Patience and Persistence: Mending is a slow, deliberate process. It teaches us to approach our spiritual lives and relationships with patience, persistence, and care.

If the disciples regularly mended their nets, which the Gospel seems to infer, then why were they broken I pondered.

Why Were They Broken?

• Daily Wear: Continuous use in harsh conditions.
• Environmental Factors: Sharp objects in the sea, strong currents, or stormy weather.
• Human Error: Improper handling or overloading could also lead to damage.

 Today as we ponder together this gospel and what mending the nets might mean for our lives we may wish to consider:

 What nets in your life need mending? Perhaps it’s relationships, faith, or personal habits. I divided it into categories:  Personal (physical-self-care and home care (e.g. garden bed needs weeding), emotional (goals yet to realise) spiritual, (reviewing spiritual life at beginning of Ordinary Time) financial (getting some finances in order).

• Who or what helps you mend them? How does Christ work as a "mender" in your life?

• What might it mean to leave behind the "broken nets" to follow Christ more fully? For example: leave behind watching some TV at night to attend adoration instead-a practice I had let slip towards the end of last year).

This simple image carries profound lessons about restoration, readiness, and trust in God’s transformative power.

 

The other interesting phrase that I noted  is repent and believe the Good News'.  This phrase struck me because in Advent we are invited to repent- make straight the paths, in Lent we are invited to repentance too but as we start Ordinary Time,  here is this invitation neatly tucked in to the gospel.' Repent and Believe the Good News.

Collect Series: Solemnity of Baptism of Our Lord.

 COLLECT SERIES.

The Mass: Collect Series icon.

Collect

The Collect for Solemnity of Baptism of the Lord reads as follows:

Almighty ever-living God,

who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan

and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him,

solemnly declared him your beloved Son,

grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,

may always be well pleasing to you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What does the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord mean to me?

2. What does ‘being a child of God through adoption’ mean to me?

3.  Do I hear God say to me’ You are my Son/daughter the Beloved- My favour rests on You’?

4.What is my relationship with the Holy Spirit?  How might I deepen that relationship this year?

5.How will I be pleasing to God this coming week/this month/this year?

 

 

 

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord that we celebrate on the First Sunday of Ordinary Time is a powerful moment in the life of Jesus: His baptism in the Jordan River. This is often called the "second epiphany" or manifestation of the Lord. Just as we saw His glory revealed to the Magi at the Epiphany, here we see another unveiling of who Jesus truly is.

This Solemnity holds a unique place in the Church calendar—it marks the end of Christmastide and serves as the bridge into Ordinary Time. It’s not just a transition of seasons, but a call to move from the extraordinary celebration of Christmas into the steady rhythm of discipleship.

In His baptism, Jesus, the sinless Son of God, steps into the waters of the Jordan among sinners, humbling Himself to take on the weight of our sins. This moment is not just symbolic; it’s transformational. Jesus chooses to identify fully with humanity, showing us the depth of His love and His mission to bring redemption to the world.

In other words, Jesus, the sinless Son of God, steps into the waters of the Jordan to be baptised among sinners. He lowers Himself to take on the weight of our sins and to become one of us in our humanity, though He, Himself is without sin.   Jesus identifies fully with humanity, showing us the depth of His love and His mission to bring redemption to the world.

At Christmas, we reflected on the Word made flesh—Jesus, born of Mary, taking on our human nature. Now, in His baptism, we see the fullness of that mystery. This is the moment when Jesus is revealed as the Christ, the Anointed One, and the eternal Son of the Father. The voice of the Father from heaven declares: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17). The Holy Spirit, descending like a dove, confirms this truth.

This scene displays to us the Trinitarian nature of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—working together in perfect harmony. It is a moment that echoes the creation story in Genesis, where the Spirit hovered over the waters. Just as God created the world in the beginning, here Jesus begins a new creation, bringing healing and restoration to all.

Jesus’ baptism is also the start of His public ministry. In the culture of Israel, reaching 30 years of age marked maturity, when a person could take on the role of teacher. At this point, Jesus steps forward as our teacher and Saviour, carrying out the mission for which He was sent. The Baptism of the Lord is a pivotal moment since this sending forth and His Baptism herald for Him and for us the commencement of His public ministry. He was now old enough to become a teacher of the law. At this point, Jesus steps forward as our teacher and Saviour, carrying out the mission for which He was sent. We too are sent forth at every Mass, to live out our Baptism and carry out the mission which Jesus asks of us individually.  Will I step forward like Jesus and fulfil that mission like Jesus started on that day in the Jordan.

In this Solemnity at the beginning of Ordinary Time, Jesus shows us the path we are called to follow. Through our own baptism, we are united with Him, becoming children of God and part of this new creation. The waters of baptism cleanse, renew, and send us forth to live as disciples.

As this Solemnity transitions us into Ordinary Time, it invites us to consider how we live out our discipleship in the everyday. Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary—it’s a season of growth, renewal, and walking with Jesus in the small and large moments of life. Through the Psalms and the Gospels, we are reminded that our faith is lived out not just in grand celebrations but in the quiet, steady rhythm of daily life.

Pope Benedict XVI beautifully described this moment: "Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; He bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated His public activity by stepping into the place of sinners." This profound act of love invites us to encounter Jesus more deeply and to recognize the call to renewal in our own lives.

As we reflect on this powerful mystery, let us ask ourselves: How can we live out our baptismal call today? How can we, like Jesus, step into the waters of life with humility and love, bringing hope and renewal to the world around us?

Moments With the Gospel series: Jesus walking on Water Mk 6

MOMENTS WITH THE GOSPEL.

Moments with the Gospel Icon.

Welcome to my series Moments with the Gospel.  In this series, I will share with you some of my moments I have had with the gospel- questions, thoughts, ideas. Although I have moments with the Gospel every day, I will share  weekly for this series.

Jesus  walking on water and the Miracle of the 5000.

 There were 2 questions which emerged as I was meditating on Mk 6:45-52.  

1. Why did Jesus as he was walking on the water pass them by when earlier in the gospel it says that Jesus could see that they were weary and that they were batting the elements.
2. What is the connection between Jesus walking on the water and the miracle of the 5000?

Meditating on Mark 6:45-52 invites deep reflection on Jesus' intentions and the connection between His miracles.

1. Why did Jesus want to pass them by?

The phrase "He intended to pass them by" (Mk 6:48) can be puzzling. Here are some theological interpretations:

• Divine Revelation: In the Old Testament, God often "passed by" individuals as a way of revealing His glory and presence (e.g., Exodus 33:19-22 with Moses; 1 Kings 19:11-13 with Elijah). Jesus walking on the water may have been intended as a theophany—a moment where His divine identity is revealed.
• Testing Faith: Jesus saw the disciples' weariness and struggle, but He may have "passed by" to test their faith and their recognition of Him. Just as He tested their faith with the loaves, this moment challenges their understanding of who He is.
• Symbol of Divine Nearness: Though it seemed He was passing by, He was always near, demonstrating that God's presence is constant, even when we do not immediately recognize it. The disciples' fear and confusion mirror how we often fail to see God in challenging moments.

 

2. Connection to the Miracle of the Loaves

The feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water are closely linked, both in context and meaning:

• Hardness of Heart: Mark explicitly states that the disciples "had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened" (Mk 6:52). The miracle of the loaves revealed Jesus' power as the provider, yet they struggled to grasp its spiritual significance. Similarly, they failed to recognize Him walking on water, despite His divine actions.
  
  
• Trust in Provision: The miracle of the loaves demonstrated Jesus' ability to meet the needs of the people. On the lake, the disciples' weariness and fear echoed the crowd's hunger—Jesus was showing them that He is the source of provision and strength in all circumstances, whether physical or spiritual.
  
  
• Revelation of Identity: Both miracles reveal Jesus' divine nature. In feeding the multitude, He showed Himself as the Bread of Life, echoing God's provision of manna in the wilderness. Walking on water echoed God's mastery over creation, recalling passages like Psalm 77:19: "Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters."

 

Reflection for Meditation:

• Divine Presence in Struggle: How often do we fail to recognize Jesus when we are weary or afraid? How can we grow in trust, knowing that He is always near, even when it feels like He is "passing by"?
• Understanding the Loaves: What does the miracle of the loaves teach you about God's abundance and His care for your needs? How does this connect to your faith in His provision during life's storms?

These moments invite us to recognize Jesus not just as a teacher or miracle worker but as the Son of God, always near, always providing, and always calling us to deeper faith.

What moments do you have with this Gospel?