“Be people who are filled with ‘enthusiasm’ – being IN GOD!”

(Based on Heb 9:2-3,11-14 and Mk 3:20-21 – Saturday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

“Enthusiasm” is a word that is very commonly used.

It is interesting to know the root meaning of this word.

“Enthusiasm” is derived from two Greek words – “en” and “theos”

“En” means IN
“Theos” means GOD

“En-theos” means being “In God”

Enthusiasm therefore points to the fact of…
… someone being “possessed by God”
… someone who is mad with the works of God

The Gospel of the Day is a narrative of a Man Who is deeply enthusiastic… IN GOD…
… the “Mad and Insane” Jesus!

St Mark’s Gospel is pretty straightforward – to the point and blunt in its nature.

The Lord was out to preach and proclaim the Kingdom of Love and Mercy…

· Broken lives were mended by the balm of His Holiness

· Ruined minds were revived by the power of His teachings

· Shattered destinies were made whole by the cure of His touch

· Hardened hearts were touched by the softness of His presence

· Ruptured consciences were restored by the gentleness of His love

The crowd following had increased…the popularity ratings had soared!

This however causes a great disturbance and distress in the family of Jesus…
“Again the crowds gathered, making it impossible for them, even to eat.
When His relatives heard of this, they set out to seize Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind'” (Mk 3: 20-21)

Jesus was labelled as being “out of mind!”

Jesus was tagged as being “insane and mad”

Jesus was branded as being “crazy and odd”

The one who is filled with God’s love is indeed an obsessed person!

The one who has eyes fixed on one’s goals is indeed a mad person!
… Obsessed in love…
… Mad for one’s aim…
… Passionate about one’s goals!

And Jesus was indeed passionate and highly zealous for His mission…

So much so, that even His own relatives misunderstood and mistook Him.

The Bible and the Church is a gigantic collection of deeds and acts of such people who were “mad” and who took “crazy” decisions in life…

Abraham was “crazy” to have faith in God, to have children, even at the ripe old age of hundred!

Moses was “mad” to trust God to lead a tiny nation from the clutches of the imposing Egyptian empire!

Mother Mary was “crazy” to give up her promising life and instead consent to an Angel to become the Mother of God!

St Peter was “mad” to abandon his career and family to follow Jesus for a ministry of unknown and uncertain future!

St Paul was “crazy” to undergo tremendous sufferings and agonizing troubles for the sake of the spread of the Gospel!

When one is really passionate towards one’s mission, there is an element of “craziness”!

When one is really zealous about one’s purposes, there is an element of “madness”!

Do I have and reflect this “mad” passion and zeal for God’s love?
… by seeking Him in all our works, activities and plans
… by reaching out His love to the needy and the disadvantaged
… by spreading hope, courage and optimism in this broken world

Let us dare to walk and live the path of the Crucified Lord…
… the One who was called mad and insane
… the One who was misunderstood and unaccepted

Because He chose to live and die for His convictions of Love!

Let us not be worried… let us not be anxious…but trust in our Loving God!

In the words of St Francis De Sales:
“God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps; and like a good father who holds his child by the hand, He will accommodate His steps to yours and will be content to go no faster than you.

Why do you worry?”

Yes, let us be people filled with “enthusiasm”… being IN GOD….
… someone being “possessed by God”
… someone who is mad with the works of God

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
GOD REVEALS HIMSELF

It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom, to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his will.
His will was that men should have access to the Father, through Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit…

… and thus become sharers in the divine nature!”