23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021 (B)
INTRO:
I have been accused of being that kind of person that some would say I am “stealing the show” or “making everything about ME!” Certainly not a favorite thing to hear about me.
I have friends that say, “Oh of course it’s all about you!”
Well, I am only human, SORRY! but the better part is that even though I am accused of this “making everything about me”, I am redeemable! We all are redeemable if we pay attention to JESUS.
Jesus is so smart, so humble, so good, so helpful, and much to be admired! He redeems us with showing us His ways and actions as we read His Life in Scripture each weekend.
Today, He HELPS astonishingly and compassionately the deaf mute as we all know he can and would do. And then he goes again and says, WHAT?
He orders them to NOT TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS. Doing so, He makes the situation NOT ABOUT HIM.
I love that about Him, not wanting this miracle to be about Him, but about the other person!
Unfortunately, as you read in the Scriptures, His saying not to tell anyone about this really backfires! It didn’t work!!! His fame spread.
In Mark’s Gospel, commentators call this the MESSIANIC SECRET, Jesus not wanting anyone to know of His miracle-healing ability.
His humility about who He is places the other person in the forefront. JESUS places the other person in the forefront!
I like that about our IHM community, too. You place others in your life FIRST and above you.
Many may not know that THE men’s group THE KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS do this as their primary mission and reason to be a KNIGHT. It is a group of guys that “takes care of the needs of our elderly or those in trouble.
Whenever Julie gets a call from a widow or a disabled person needing some work done…. The KNIGHTS are johnny on the spot, in imitation of JESUS who heals and helps and doesn’t make it about themselves but placing the needs of our parishioners first.
I know many of you are caregivers for your spouse at home and like JESUS its not about you and what YOU DO, but about healing and helping, assisting and love the one’s you care for.
CONCLUSION
So today is not about ME but who I can heal and help. May the HOLY COMMUNION you consume today bring this to your mind and make it a day about others’ needs first.