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By Bro. Bobot Apit  

Yes Christians, broadcast yourself. Promote yourself. Mark out yourself. But only for the sake of service and charity and that In all things, the Lord may be praised!

YAHWEH EL SHADDAI, forgive us, if at times, we steal the glory, honor and praise from you. Eemind us always that in everything that we do, may you alone be magnified, praised and glorified! In Jesus Name! Amen!

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time B

M ark 1:29-39 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. (30) Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. (31) So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. (32) That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. (33) The whole town gathered at the door, (34) and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. (35) Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (36) Simon and his companions went to look for him, (37) and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” (38) Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (39) So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Meditation by Fr. Joel Jasobn

Broadcast Yourself!

O ne time I happened to catch a talk show featuring mothers who were worried of their children posting too much about themselves in the social networks in the internet. Some mothers bemoaned that their daughters have gone as far as posting videos of themselves in their most private activities. When one daughter was asked why she did it, she plainly responded, “For me it’s just self-expression. I like it when I get people’s attention. YouTube is cool because it allows me to broadcast myself.”

Broadcast myself!

This is NOT a shy generation we live in. Lately in the news, advisory was given as to what information should and should not be posted in the social networking sites. One family was reportedly broken into as the robbers easily navigated their way after having been “invited” through the Facebook posts detailing every nook and cranny of the home.

We love being in the limelight. I often find myself scratching my head when I hear celebrities, declaring to their enemies on national TV, “I’m a very private person. Let’s settle this, just you and I…” then begins to narrate to all and sundry the dark details of their private lives, in front of the invited press people, at primetime. What a private person!

Mark in today’s Gospel once more narrates a typical day in the public ministry of the Lord – teaching the people, meeting the sick and healing them of their infirmities, expelling demons. One curious fact in the life of the Lord is that He always seems to “shy away” from the limelight every time the crowd seems to get excited over the wonders He performs. It’s not unusual to read in the Gospel Jesus, after rounds of healing and miracles “withdrawing to a lonely place in the desert” (see v 35).

Today, Simon had to track down Jesus and when found told the Lord, “Everybody is looking for you!” ( see v 37). It was the day after another instance of miraculous healings. Perhaps there was a band ready to serenade him. The press might have been invited for a news conference. But Jesus was not interested. Instead, he said “Let us move on to the neighboring village so that I may proclaim the good news there also.”

No, Jesus here is not being aloof. Nor is He being painfully shy. He is not playing hard to get. The irony is, while Jesus often avoids the limelight, He DOES present himself when needed “…that I may proclaim the good news there also (v 38).” In fact, many times in the Gospel, Jesus even calls attention to Himself and calls Himself titles like “ I am the good shepherd,” “I am the way, the truth and the life,” “I am the vine…” “I am the Bread of Life…” etc.

I believe Jesus here is teaching us something about self-promotion. Self-promotion is not bad. It can actually be a Christian duty. But self-promotion is good only when placed at the service of charity and duty. Otherwise, self-promotion becomes vanity, nothing but an ego trip, an ego massage - therefore, fruitless.

Yes Christians, broadcast yourself. Promote yourself. Mark out yourself. But only for the sake of service and charity and that In all things, the Lord may be praised!

God bless! # # #

GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU. – Bobot Apit

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