Gospel Reflection for The 23rd day of January in the year of Our Lord, 2025
Mark 3:7-12
7 But Jesus retired with his disciples to the sea; and a great multitude followed him from Galilee and Judea, 8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond the Jordan. And they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing the things which he did, came to him. 9 And he spoke to his disciples that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. 10 For he healed many, so that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had evils.
11 And the unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him: and they cried, saying: 12 Thou art the Son of God. And he strictly charged them that they should not make him known.
We have discussed, several times, how and why God does not violate our free will. It is remarkable though, how He constantly prevented demons from proclaiming His divinity. If they had, everyone would have been compelled to acknowledge Jesus as God. The demons knew who He was and is. The people were terrified of demons. Had any mere human heard demons acknowledging Jesus' divinity, he would have had to believe in Jesus. The choice of whether or not to believe would be taken away.
Instead, Jesus heals people. He feeds people. He shows love and compassion, albeit in miraculous ways. Gratitude should open the heart to love. Those who were grateful responded with love and came to believe in Him. This is the gentle persuasion of Jesus. God could have come to earth in such powerful majesty that no one could stand before Him. Instead, He came as helpless infant, a wise teacher and a humble servant. He does not assert dominance. He merely beckons and welcomes.
We may wonder why Jesus presents Himself to us so gently. But, this is the incredible respect He shows us. We are not worthy of it. Our natural disposition to God is one of unspeakable awe, fear, humility and penance. Yet, Jesus lifts us up... raises us to our feet with His own hands, and offers to share His divinity and brotherhood with us. Truly, it is beyond human understanding – any insights we may attain come through love and faith, not reason. Jesus loves us unreasonably!
Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings January-June, 2025 It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK3M1WDZ
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is also Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
His new podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic