Daily Reflections ...

This Advent, let us be drawn to the Jesus whose heart is so opened in compassion that the people were ‘amazed’. Early in Mark’s Gospel, we hear that he ‘speaks with authority’ unlike the Scribes and Pharisees. In today’s Gospel, it is the authority of authentic encounter, the power of his love, that draws the people to Jesus. Pope Francis often speaks about a ‘culture of encounter.’ In Evangelii Gaudium, he invites us to ‘take on the smell of the sheep’ as we encounter others. In first-century Palestine, many believed that the lame, maimed, blind and mute were carrying the burden of being punished by God. They are placed at the feet of Jesus. He sees them! Jesus looks into their eyes and senses their stories of rejection, poverty, and powerlessness. His heart opens in compassion for these lost sheep of the House of Israel.

One day, Mother Teresa was visiting a very poor Hindu family and brought some rice with her. As Mother Teresa was sitting with the mother and her children, preparing the rice for the evening meal, a powerful lesson in compassion unfolded. When the meal was ready, the mother reached for a container and placed half of the beautifully cooked rice into it. She gave it to her young daughter, who quickly left. Mother Teresa asked, ‘What are you doing?’ ‘Mother’ came the reply, ‘there is a poor Muslim family close by who have nothing – that rice is for them!’

 If a miracle occurs on the grassy Galilean hillside in today’s Gospel, perhaps it is in the generosity of sharing from what little we have so that those who have nothing may live. Jesus sees the crowds, he sees their need, and his heart opens in compassion. This Advent week, let us do the same.

By Br Damien Price cfc