Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
(I Samuel 1:9-10; Mark 1:21-18)
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? ...” The devil’s question in the gospel resounds in
the consciences of people today. Seniors,
reflecting over their lives, wonder if Jesus’ wisdom is any more efficacious than
that of other sages. The middle-aged,
finding a measure of identity in a faith tradition, still refuse to follow all
the tenets of the founder. The young are
mostly indifferent to Jesus as they pursue a life of autonomy and
security.
To be sure, Jesus has much to add to the lives of all. The elderly will find hope in him. Even if
they have not achieved fame or have had a family to remember them, he promises
them eternal life. The middle-aged will
find in Jesus a more solid foundation for life than possessions or international
experiences. His ways will add a depth
of meaning proven worthwhile by the saints over the centuries. The young will have a way out of the insularity
of self-concern. They will learn from Jesus
how to love with their hearts.
Just as Jesus brought freedom to the demoniac, he can free
us to achieve the fullness of spirit that our creation as humans offers. By no means is his way easy as it calls us
beyond personal desires. But whatever the
difficulties it entails, it assures us of his companionship as friend and
guide.
