Breaking the Word – Page 2346 – Rev. Dr. Victor Antonyraj SDB

05.02.11 COMPASSION

Posted under Reflections on February 4th, 2011 by

The apostlesgathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. (Mk 6:30-34)

The disciples came back to Jesus after their successful mission. They knew from whom they got the power and authority to teach and heal and they returned to him to report about their successes. Probably the people would have expected that the apostles continued their work on their own. Since the power and authority was with them they could have continued on their own. They were aware that these were from Jesus and they wanted to be accountable to Jesus.

Jesus wanted his apostles to rest a while. He did not want them to be work oriented. Work was important and in fact it was he who had said that the harvest is plenty. Even though the mission was enormous yet he did not want his apostles to be burned up before time. And it was Jesus who took them to a deserted place to rest and be without disturbances from the people.

But when Jesus saw the crowd following and searching for them, Jesus could not but go to be of help to them. People became his main and only concern. When people long for assistance Jesus is ready offer even though it might be demanding. Jesus was ready to sacrifice anything for the people who search for him. And that was his compassion.

04.02.11 JOHN THE BAPTIST

Posted under Reflections on February 3rd, 2011 by

King Herod heard about it, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him." Others were saying, "He is Elijah"; still others, "He is a prophet like any of the prophets." But when Herod learned of it, he said, "It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up."Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Herodiasharbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him…

He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mk 6:14-29)

Today’s reading about Jesus, beginning of his ministry and the relationship with the mission of John the Baptist. Jesus suddenly appeared in public with his ministry. His appearance was so sudden that people begin to wonder who he was or from where he was coming. People in general see him as a prophet. People were accustomed to see a prophet or prophet’s activities. Those who have seen John the Baptist and his ministry wonder whether Jesus was John the Baptist (risen from the dead). Herod is one of such.

John the Baptist had been very clear about his preaching and his activities. As we read in the Gospels we see him preparing the way of the Lord. He was also sure that he was not the messiah. His work was also prophetic in the sense he spoke openly the truth and demanded that truth should be adhered to. And this is the reason that Herod and Herodias were angry and worried about his mission and Herodias wanted to end the life of John the Baptist.

Mark places this story about the death of John the Baptist here to tell his readers that Jesus began his ministry when John had completed his. John was the one who baptised Jesus at river Jordan but with regard to ministry we see that Jesus began as John had finished his ministry. But in the Gospel of John we see that there was overlapping of ministry for sometime. But the general view is that Jesus began as the other ended. That is the reason that Herod says that John has been raised from the dead.