BRINGING THE SICK TO CHRIST – 02/07/22 (Monday)

Mark 6:54-56

54 And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55 and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard He was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and besought Him that they might touch even the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were made well.

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Blessed Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time! We have the responsibility, not just to come to Jesus to be healed, but also to bring others to Him. In our gospel reading, many people followed Him wherever He went, and they looked for sick people to bring to Jesus. This happened when they first saw Him. The people recognized that He was the one whom they heard to be performing miracles. Because of this, they persevered in following Him, and they had the faith that they would be healed even if they touched His garment. Jesus Christ is inviting us to believe in Him and bring the sick because He can grant true healing out of love for us. 

The same Jesus is present in every Mass. We are not just privileged to see Him, but we can also receive His Most Precious Body. However, not everyone persevere in worshipping Him in the Holy Mass because not all recognize how He can heal us by His mercy. Many of us have illnesses. These are not just limited to physical illnesses, but they also include spiritual illnesses due to sins. At the same time, some people do not come to our Lord because they dwell on their anxieties, discouragement, and hopelessness in life. And yet, Our Lord Jesus, the Bread of Life, is waiting for us to come to Him in the Mass where we can offer our sufferings to the Sacrifice of Christ. Only He can heal us of our illnesses, and we just need to have faith in Him. Like the people in the gospel reading, He wants us to bring others who may not physically attend the Mass to His Merciful Love. This happens if we include them in our intentions when we pray in the Holy Mass. For the sake of the Sorrowful Passion of Christ, our Father in heaven will grant us peace as He listens to our petitions. 

Do we recognize the majesty of Jesus who is truly present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Mass? Let's adore Him and receive His Most Precious Body and Blood. His glory will fill the temple of our bodies and hearts, and He will heal us and grant us peace amidst our struggles. Do we know some people in need of Christ's healing mercy? May we offer them to our Lord in our prayers. Jesus will lift up the intentions in our hearts and unite it with His Sacrifice as an offering to the Father. 

Amen +

 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic