Free from complaints
Mark 1:29-39. Straight from the synagogue, he went with James and John to the house of Simon and Andrew. And Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a fever. They immediately told Him about her. He came over, took his mother-in-law's hand and lifted her up. Then the fever subsided and she served them.
[media=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhTAVVP9J_M]
When evening came, when the sun had already set, they brought to Him all the sick and possessed. The whole city gathered at the door. He healed many who were plagued with various diseases and cast out many demons; but he did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning, before dawn, he got up and went out to a lonely place and prayed there. And Simon and those who were with him went out to look for him. When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."
And he answered them, "Let us go elsewhere, to the neighboring towns, that I may teach there also; for this is why I came out." And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Righteous Job expected repayment for the nights of anguish and months of torment, but his expectations were not soon fulfilled. Many nights were eternity long and filled with pain for him.
Somewhere in the shadow of our nobility, like a dog behind a slaughterhouse wall, lies the expectation of gratification for a life darker than nights. Who among us does not complain like Job about suffering?
Raising children, creating good relationships with your spouse, caring for living every day in a pure conscience, fighting for every penny, struggling for spiritual development, passing exams, enduring humiliations, meeting the requirements of your state and vocation - all this is tiring, but look at Jesus, Job, Paul.
Paul did not count on any payment for the effort of proclaiming and giving others the mystery of redemption, although for his priceless and devastating work he should have received the highest salary and a vacation in a Mediterranean resort. But he worked like a slave.
He gave not only Jesus and the treasure of the Gospel, but also his whole self, so that those to whom he gave himself would be all the more numerous. He sold himself to redeem even some of them. Benedict XVI said that the lack of an attitude of service in the priesthood is a profanation of the priesthood.
When Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law in the evening, he was probably tired and should take a well-deserved rest. The tired sun had already set, and the whole city was gathered at the doors that did not close until late at night.
Moreover, when after exhausting healings and exorcisms he should have allowed himself a longer sleep, he got up while it was still dark and prayed. He worked for human salvation after sunset, and in the dark morning, before the sun rose, he prayed.
Salvation is God's total self-offering to people. Thanks to him, man was redeemed, completely gained. Jesus, by giving himself completely to us, also bought us completely for heaven. He won us forever because he gave himself to us forever.
He became king forever because he worked for our salvation like a slave. What reward of gratitude did he receive from us?
The texts of today's readings can save you from claims, complaints, grievances and expectations of gratification for what you have experienced. John Paul II was already a very weak, old and sick man, but he still went on long journeys to win people for Jesus.
Someone else in his place would have asked for retirement a long time ago and moved to a warm apartment, far from human tears, and was only excited by TV news.
Some time ago, we witnessed an amazing expedition to the North Pole by Marek Kamiński and Janek Mela. They covered huge spaces to reach the coldest point on earth. Isn't it worth risking a further journey to win one frozen heart for the Gospel?
[media=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhTAVVP9J_M]
When evening came, when the sun had already set, they brought to Him all the sick and possessed. The whole city gathered at the door. He healed many who were plagued with various diseases and cast out many demons; but he did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning, before dawn, he got up and went out to a lonely place and prayed there. And Simon and those who were with him went out to look for him. When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."
And he answered them, "Let us go elsewhere, to the neighboring towns, that I may teach there also; for this is why I came out." And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Righteous Job expected repayment for the nights of anguish and months of torment, but his expectations were not soon fulfilled. Many nights were eternity long and filled with pain for him.
Somewhere in the shadow of our nobility, like a dog behind a slaughterhouse wall, lies the expectation of gratification for a life darker than nights. Who among us does not complain like Job about suffering?
Raising children, creating good relationships with your spouse, caring for living every day in a pure conscience, fighting for every penny, struggling for spiritual development, passing exams, enduring humiliations, meeting the requirements of your state and vocation - all this is tiring, but look at Jesus, Job, Paul.
Paul did not count on any payment for the effort of proclaiming and giving others the mystery of redemption, although for his priceless and devastating work he should have received the highest salary and a vacation in a Mediterranean resort. But he worked like a slave.
He gave not only Jesus and the treasure of the Gospel, but also his whole self, so that those to whom he gave himself would be all the more numerous. He sold himself to redeem even some of them. Benedict XVI said that the lack of an attitude of service in the priesthood is a profanation of the priesthood.
When Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law in the evening, he was probably tired and should take a well-deserved rest. The tired sun had already set, and the whole city was gathered at the doors that did not close until late at night.
Moreover, when after exhausting healings and exorcisms he should have allowed himself a longer sleep, he got up while it was still dark and prayed. He worked for human salvation after sunset, and in the dark morning, before the sun rose, he prayed.
Salvation is God's total self-offering to people. Thanks to him, man was redeemed, completely gained. Jesus, by giving himself completely to us, also bought us completely for heaven. He won us forever because he gave himself to us forever.
He became king forever because he worked for our salvation like a slave. What reward of gratitude did he receive from us?
The texts of today's readings can save you from claims, complaints, grievances and expectations of gratification for what you have experienced. John Paul II was already a very weak, old and sick man, but he still went on long journeys to win people for Jesus.
Someone else in his place would have asked for retirement a long time ago and moved to a warm apartment, far from human tears, and was only excited by TV news.
Some time ago, we witnessed an amazing expedition to the North Pole by Marek Kamiński and Janek Mela. They covered huge spaces to reach the coldest point on earth. Isn't it worth risking a further journey to win one frozen heart for the Gospel?
51-55, F