Bombarded by the Activities of a Crowded Day

 In today's Gospel, Mark 3: 20-21, Jesus enters a house. The crowd is so great that Jesus isn't even able to eat. Relatives hear of this and come to rescue him, for, as far as they were concerned, "he was out of his mind."  Jesus, the Incarnate God, who became like us in all things but sin is deemed insane, that is, mentally ill!  His relatives see him no longer as being able to take care of himself and make his own decisions concerning his life or ministry. They are determined to take possession of him!

It is difficult enough when total strangers turn against us but it is a totally different story when our family and relatives do so. This is the predicament  in which Jesus finds himself!  He is totally alone. No support but that of His heavenly Father. 

Often, after being bombarded by crowds of people seeking to touch  but the hem of his garment, and not even giving himself time to eat, Jesus goes off to some deserted place to pray to His Father. It is important that you and I, also, set time apart to talk to our Father in heaven. We need to take control of our lives by "carving" out periods of solitude, stepping aside from the crowd and all of the demands put upon us, all of the pressures that descend upon us, for quiet and alone time.  We can get so caught up in the whirlwind of activities that swallow us up hour after hour after hour that we become slaves and lose control of our time and lives--yes, we are, then, "out of our minds."  We are unable to think clearly or at all--our emotions blind us to living rationally!  

May you and I realize that when we are "out of our minds," bombarded by the demands of our jobs/ministries, it is time to step back, breathe in the peace that solitude  brings--the solitude of nature, of our favorite places to calm down to surrender to the Lord, seek the Lord's wisdom and prudence.

Vindication and Victory

In today's first reading for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time,  Isaiah 62: 1-5, the prophet voices his desire  quite strongly, proclaiming as follows:  "For Zion's sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch." Confidently, he then states his belief:  "Nations shall behold your vindication, and all the kings your glory; you shall be called by a new name, pronounced by the mouth of the Lord. You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall people call you 'Forsaken,' or your land 'Desolate,' but you shall be called 'My Delight,' and your land 'Espoused.'"

Isaiah, I believe,  is speaking about those who adhere to God's law, who worship the one true God and follow the way of Christ, living as Jesus lived here on earth.  I hear the prophet Isaiah speaking up for all oppressed peoples and nations  that are denied justice, whose right to have their basic human needs for food, water, shelter met. I hear the prophet Isaiah crying out for justice for those denied a basic education and deprived of opportunities to work for a living wage to provide for their families. Isaiah, I believe, continues to this day to intercede for victims of criminal activities: victims of human trafficking and slave labor; victims of evil, cruel, cheating employers.

Isaiah, God's spokesperson to the poor and oppressed nations and peoples of his time, states strongly his belief that "Nations shall behold your vindication and all kings your glory....No more" Isaiah proclaims, "shall people call you 'Forsaken,' or your land 'Desolate,' but you shall be called [God's]...'Delight,' and your land 'Espoused.'"

What a promised--a promised made to you and me, as well We have been totally vindicated by Jesus' death and resurrection! No longer are we forsaken or desolate. We, too, are God's "Delight." We, too, are espoused to the Lord God! We are God's bride and God the bridegroom!