2nd Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 19th January 2023 — Gospel: Mark 3,7-12
Universalistic Mission
The descriptive account affirms the presence of crowds in large numbers with various actions: ‘great multitude followed’, ‘great numbers came’, ‘crowds crushed’, ‘cured many’, ‘all diseased pressed upon to touch’, ‘unclean spirits fell down before and shouted’, and ‘sternly ordered them’. These actions exhibit Jesus’ universal nature for countless numbers. Mark, the evangelist, mentions the seven geographical areas from which they come, which symbolize the universal aspect of Jesus’ mission. His universalism is heightened with multitudes consisting of Jewish people from Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem, as well as some Gentiles from the regions of Jordan River and Northern coast of Mediterranean. His universalism is highlighted also in the different categories of people who were healed, including those with the unclean spirits. The narrative commonly states a synthesized theme that Jesus is at home with them all and heals them of all their maladies.
