Daily Catholic Lectio
Mon, 5 Feb 2024
Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13. Mark 6:53-56
Ark and boat
The Lord chooses to stay and travel with us. This not only reveals the simplicity and self-emptying nature of God but also makes us realise our dignity and responsibility to raise our standard.
The first reading from 1 Kings sets the context of the dedication of the First Temple built by Solomon. The ark of the covenant is brought from the city and installed in the temple. The text narrates how the glory of God filled the temple as the ark of the covenant was brought in. This is indeed a foreshadowing of incarnation, which John describes as ‘glory of God dwelt in Jesus.’ The Lord God of Israel begins to pitch his tent among his people in the Temple.
The gospel reading from Mark narrates the events of an evening in the life of Jesus. Three things happen in the narrative: first, Jesus and his disciples are always on the move – from shore to the sea, sea to the shore, and across the sea; second, people recognise Jesus; and third, Jesus allows himself to be touched by the people so that they are healed.
The people around Gennesaret were in dire need of Jesus. They throng around him; they want to touch him, hold him, and be healed. In Jesus, they found the solace of their lives.
First, Jesus and his disciples are always on the move. The evangelist Mark uses the word ‘immediately’ 42 times in his gospel. This word shows the quickness of Jesus’ action. Jesus is ‘active’ in Mark. He and his disciples tirelessly travel towards people. Our Holy Father, in the context of a synod for a synodal church, insists that our church be a church towards others – ecclesia ed extra! (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 23).
Second, Mark writes that people recognised Jesus. What did they recognize? Did they recognise Jesus’ face? or something more? Did they recognise the empathy that he would show? Seeing is different from recognizing. When we recognise someone, we already begin to respond and initiate a relationship.
Third, people plead with Jesus to allow them to touch at least the fringe of his cloak. This not only shows the power of Jesus but also the faith of the people. When they touch, they are healed. The action of touching is followed by the immediate result. Jesus did not build a wall around him or put a fence around him; rather, he allowed everyone to be near him to touch him.
Jesus is dynamic, available, and responsive.
What is the lesson for us?
Having a sense of sacredness is the lesson. The people in the temple and the people at the seashore realised that they were in the presence of the sacred. The sense of sacredness is missing in our lives today. God continues to reveal Godself in the word of God, in sacraments, in our neighbours, and in nature. We need to recognise God. When we recognise God, we begin to recognise our worth.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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