“Imitating and following Jesus, the Ideal Altruist!”

(Based on 2 Sam 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13 and Mk 5:1-20 – Monday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

Altruism is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others.

Altruism is selflessness – the opposite of selfishness.

It consists of sacrificing something for someone with no expectation of any compensation or benefits, either direct or indirect.

The Gospel of the Day presents the Altruistic Ideal – Jesus – engaged in His great ministry of bringing the Kingdom of God to many…
… of healing
… of rebuking the evil spirits
… of bringing consolation and joy to the people.

And today He enters a Gentile territory…
… They came to the other side of the sea to the territory of Gerasenes” (Mk 5: 1)

In Luke 4:18, Jesus announced His Mission Programme of “…bringing good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, new sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed…”

In accordance with this manifesto, Jesus sets forward to announce the Kingdom of God through His mighty deeds and works.

The Lord unveils the Compassionate Face of the Father and reveals His Benevolent Heart to the needy and the deprived.

As He enters the territory of Gerasenes, Jesus encounters a man “who came from the tombs with an unclean spirit” (Mk 5:2)

St Mark describes the hard state that the man was in…
… dwelling among the tombs
… none could restrain him
… bound in chains

Sometimes, in life, we too find ourselves in such a situation…
… though not physically, but mentally, socially and spiritually!

In all such “possessed” situations of life…
… are we ready to encounter the presence of the Lord?

In the sunset of darkness and pain in my life…
…. Do I encounter the Lord to receive the Light of Hope and Healing?

In the chained situations of emptiness in my spiritual life…
…. Do I encounter the Lord to receive the Freedom of Faith and Revival?

In the broken moments of frustrations and despair…
…. Do I encounter the Lord to receive the Restoration of Encouragement and Support?

St Mark goes on to describe the state of the demoniac…
… how he would hurt himself with stones (Mk 5: 5)
… how he cried out loudly to the Lord (Mk 5:7)
… how he pleaded the Lord to not chase away from that comfort zone (Mk 5:10)

We need to ask ourselves…

Am I tormented by the demons of evil forces and satanic powers…?
… The power of the Lord is here to deliver!

Am I tormented by the demons of bad, unhealthy addictions…?
… The power of the Lord is here to overcome!

Am I tormented by the demons of filthy words and dirty thoughts…?
… The power of the Lord is here to liberate!

Am I tormented by the demons of peer pressure and societal strains…?
… The power of the Lord is here to set free!

The Lord at the end of today’s Gospel passage declares His intentions of going to other towns (Mk 5:18)…
… and also exhorts the demoniac who was healed to remain in his place, and to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God (Mk 5: 19-20).

The zeal and enthusiasm of the Lord to reach out the Gospel to many others is really amazing

And He also inspires and exhorts those who have been touched by Him, to become a witness to His Works and His Kingdom

Do I imitate the Lord…
…. in being zealous to reach out God’s goodness and kindness to many other people?
… in being fervent to let ignorant people to know the saving message of the Gospel?

The Gospel of the Day invites us to take note of the Altruistic Spirit of Jesus…

This Altruism of Jesus challenges us…
… to be willing to change our lives, go beyond our zones of comfort and help the needy with the Acceptance and Restoration of the Lord!
…. to reach out to many sick and suffering and troubled and weak-hearted and afflicted people with the Love and Compassion and Healing and Mercy of the Lord!

Jesus was possessed by a deep love of His Father…
… which made Him to be Altruistic in reaching out to others.

Jesus was filled with a deep fervour for the Kingdom…
… which made Him to be Altruistic in saving and healing others.

Today, You and I, are invited and challenged to imitate and follow Jesus, the Ideal Altruist!

Let us show forth that we are Children of our Heavenly Father and soldiers of the Kingdom of God, not only through our words but much more by our Altruistic words and deeds and actions.

St Gregory the Great says, “He is not wise to me who is wise in words only, but he who is wise in deeds.”

Let us seek the intercession of St John Bosco, on this Feast Day, for this Grace of “recognizing the Presence of the Lord in our lives and avoiding any relapse”…
… and give heed to his words:
“Be brave and try to detach your heart from worldly things

Do your utmost to banish darkness from your mind and come to understand what true, selfless piety is.
Enliven your faith, which is essential to understand and achieve piety.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE POWER OF THE KEYS

After his Resurrection, Christ sent his apostles “so that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations.”
The apostles and their successors carry out this “ministry of reconciliation,” not only by announcing to men God’s forgiveness merited for us by Christ…
… and calling them to conversion and faith; but also by communicating to them the forgiveness of sins in Baptism, and reconciling them with God and with the Church through the power of the keys, received from Christ
[The Church] has received the keys of the Kingdom of heaven so that, in her, sins may be forgiven through Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit’s action.

In this Church, the soul dead through sin comes back to life in order to live with Christ, whose grace has saved us. (CCC # 981)