Daily Catholic Lectio
Wed, 10 January 2024
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20. Mark 1:29-39
Ripple effect
A pebble that is thrown amidst a still pond creates ripples (small waves) that, little by little, come to touch the littoral zone (shore area of the pond). The ripple effect that is caused by the dropping of a pebble makes every pebble on the shore area wet. A little pebble that is thrown in the midst makes the difference in the pebbles along the shore.
In today’s gospel reading, we read about the ripple effect that was created by Jesus’ ministry. Jesus begins his preaching and healing ministry in a synagogue at Capernaum. Jesus’ first miracle in the gospel of Mark was an exorcism miracle.
Jesus, along with his first four disciples, goes to the house of Simon. It is said in the Celtic tradition, ‘If you need to trust a person, you must see his house.’ Jesus visits Simon’s home, maybe to see whether he could entrust his church to him. There, when Jesus was told about the ill health of Simon’s mother-in-law, Jesus ‘immediately’ lifted her up and healed her. This second type of miracle is a healing miracle (the third type, which we will see later, is a nature miracle). Having heard the news, the entire town gathers at the house of Simon, with the demon-possessed and the sick. Jesus heals everyone. In the morning, he goes to spend time in prayer. Simon, who comes there to meet Jesus, says, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ To him, Jesus says, ‘Let us go on to the next towns.’
Jesus’ healing of Simon’s mother-in-law was a pebble that created a ripple that went on to create more ripples, such as the townspeople being healed, Jesus’ personal prayer, and his journey across Galilee.
In the first reading, too, we come across a ripple effect. Boy Samuel is in the house of the Lord together with Eli, the priest. The text says that the word was ‘rare.’ Samuel hears the voice of God, and at the command of Eli, he responds, ‘Speak; your servant is listening.’ Samuel turns out to be a great prophet.
‘Your servant is listening’ – this expression in fact sums up the entire mission of Samuel. Anna listened to the Lord and conceived Samuel. Samuel would later listen to the voice of the people and make Saul king.
What do we learn from the ripple effects created by Jesus and Samuel?
(a) The first pebble must be thrown.
When Jesus hears of the ill health of Simon’s mother-in-law, he volunteers to heal her. Jesus throws the first pebble. Jesus turns a problem into an opportunity for ministry. Eli instructs young Samuel to throw the first pebble. No pebble is created without the first pebble being thrown into the pond. No result is achieved without the first effort. Often, we feel hesitant to act. ‘The Five Second Rule’, a book by Mel Robbins, says that for any action, the first five seconds are crucial. In those five seconds, we have our hesitation, negative beliefs, procrastination, and self-doubt. Once these are overcome, the action begins.
(b) Reviewing in silence and solitude
A ripple that evolves in the pond has two directions: one is towards the shore, and the other is towards the centre. If ripples are directed towards the shore alone, they may break open the shore. The opposite force balances the force by pulling it back. Jesus, though he walked towards people, constantly returned to the Father – to be pulled back. Pulling back in prayer was the time for Jesus’ review in silence and solitude.
(c) Temptation of the familiar
‘Popularity’ and ‘familiarity’ are the hurdles for the pebble effect. They come from outside and from those who are close to us: ‘popularity’ (from ‘populi,’ people), ‘familiarity’ (from ‘familia,’ family). Simon tells Jesus, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ Jesus tempts Jesus to stay back, to be in his comfort zone. Jesus does not yield to the temptation. At times, we are comfortable doing the things that are easy and that are familiar to us. We are happy being with the people we know. A ripple, though born in the middle of the pond, does not remain there. It continues to move. Jesus and Samuel constantly move on to the next towns.
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A self-gazing church will be centred on authority and survival, and with an attitude of ‘holier than thou’ it will seclude herself. But the church that moves ad extra (towards others) will be inclusive of the vulnerable. (Jubilee A.D. 2025, bite 5).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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