Passion for Mission!

Saturday, January 20, 2024

2 Sm 1:1-4,11-12,19,23-27; Mk 3:20-21

There are two powerful insights from today’s Gospel. 

At first, we find Jesus being judged by his relatives. 

Why do they indulge in judgement? Their lack of understanding of Jesus and his mission leads to judging him.  

Oftentimes, we do not realize that the judgement we pass on others is a cover for our inability. 

The Gospel invites us to examine ourselves regarding the judgements we pass on others. 

Secondly, the insight is on saintliness. His relatives judge that ‘Jesus is out of his mind.’

But how often do we know that saintliness comes with a bit of ‘madness’ associated with it?

An example from a saint’s life would help us put things in perspective. 

St. Martin de Pores was a Peruvian lay brother of the Dominican Order. The humble saint was asked to be the caretaker of the house. It so happened that one day, some rats spoiled the altar clothes. Br. Michael, who was in charge of the chapel and liturgy, went mad at seeing the unusable clothes. Fuming within himself, he called Martin to bring it to his attention. The conversation between the two brothers follows: ‘Rats, Br Michael?’ Martin answered. ‘Yes, I said rats. Put down that stupid digger and come and see the abomination of desolation they have made.’ Martin went and saw. He looked at one piece after another with a rueful expression on his face. Br Michael said ‘Rats’ several times. Then Martin said something, which drove everything else out of his mind. ‘It’s my fault,’ he said dolefully, ‘for not having fed the rats.’

Jesus was consumed with passion for the mission.

We pray that we imitate Jesus’ passion – ‘His Madness.’

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar