The Good He Calls Us To
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Mark 1:29-39 - On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“For this purpose have I come.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
When people read this Gospel passage, what probably often gets the most notice is Jesus’ healings, His miracles. Those are certainly what are getting the most notice from the townspeople in this passage. It is true, Jesus’ miracles are amazing, the work of God, and so they deserve our attention. It is also true, Jesus’ healings are very real and tender solutions to very real and painful problems, and so they deserve our attention, too. This being the case, it makes a lot of sense that when we read this passage, our minds focus on those parts. But as wonderful as these miraculous healings are, and as much as Jesus was pleased to perform them, they are not Jesus’ main focus. As the word of His healing spreads around that town, and another long line of those needing healing was probably about to form, Jesus heads away alone to pray, and then prepares to leave the town. He says, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”
Jesus knows His mission. And Jesus lets that mission guide His decisions. And even though there were many problems He would leave behind, and many people whose illnesses would go unhealed, Jesus primary mission was something else. To accomplish His primary mission of reconciling mankind to God through the forgiveness of our sin, He needed to leave many other good opportunities behind. We too have a call, a mission, that we need to devote our lives to. And, like Jesus, we need to learn to leave many good deeds undone, for the sake of doing the one greater thing we must do – our mission.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
Like Pier? Share it with others (via links below) / Subscribe to it (below) / Support (the mission)
