“Allowing our lives to truly reflect the Paradise of God’s Reign!”

(Based on 1 Kgs 8:1-7, 9-13 and Mk 6:53-56 – Monday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

A pious religious traveller once found a precious stone…
… a precious jewel.
>> A short time later, this religious person met another traveller, who said he was hungry and asked the monk if he would share some of his provisions.

When the pious man opened his bag, the traveller saw the precious stone and, without much thought asked him if he could have it.
>> To his surprise, the man gave the traveller the expensive stone.

The traveller departed quickly, overjoyed with his new possession.


However, a few days later, he came back, searching for the religious person.
>> He returned the stone to him and made a request:
“I request you to kindly give me something more valuable…
… more precious than this stone.

Please give me THAT which enabled you to give me this precious stone!”


Life may often bless us with many external riches and outer treasures.
>> But unless one finds a contentment within, none of these will ever satisfy or suffice.

What is needed in life, is not an external show…
… but rather, an internal glow!


The Gospel of the Day presents the importance of humbling oneself…
… in order to discover the true riches of life.


St Mark tells us that Jesus came to a place named Gennesaret…
“And when they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret… (Mk 6:53)


“Gennesaret” meaning a “Garden of a Prince” or the “Garden of riches”…
… was a fertile crescent-shaped plain on the western shore of the lake of Galilee.

It was an area where the “soil was so fruitful that all sorts of trees could grow upon it. The walnut, the palm, the olive and the fig, which usually require diverse conditions, flourished together here.”

The land was known for its riches and prosperity.


Yet, with all its riches and glory, Gennesaret, had also many struggles and sufferings

Though the people of Gennesaret had many riches, there were still many who were “in need” and “suffering and struggling”


And so, as soon as Jesus reached their land, the people of Gennesaret “scurried about the surrounding and country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was” (Mk 6:55)


The people of Gennesaret
… rich in many aspects – financially, talent wise, relationally
… fertile in many aspects – having great visions and plans for future, systematic, disciplined
… fruitful in many aspects – popular, acceptable, having name and fame
Yet, recognised their “lack of many things”

And sought the help and touch of Jesus – the One Who alone could bring true contentment and joy.


Each of us need to look into our own lives and examine…

There are times when apparently things may be going on well
There are times when externally we engage in many happy and frolic moments

But…
… deep within, perhaps, there is a void and vacuum that we feel
… deep within, perhaps, we don’t feel much peace of mind and joy at heart


The people of Gennesaret teach us today on the need to “humble ourselves and replenish ourselves” in the Presence of the Lord – Who alone can bring us true joy and lasting peace!

Let us make our life a true “Gennesaret”…
… a Garden of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Joy and salvation!
… a Garden of Riches of holiness, sanctity and grace!


Life may often bless us with many external riches and outer treasures.
>> But unless one finds a contentment within, none of these will ever satisfy or suffice.

May our lives…
… truly reflect the Paradise of God’s Reign!


God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION AND OURS – THE PROGRESSIVE REVELATION OF THE RESURRECTION
>> Jesus links faith in the resurrection to His own Person: “I am the Resurrection and the life.”
>> It is Jesus himself Who on the last day will raise up those who have believed in Him, who have eaten His Body and drunk His Blood.
>> Already now in this present life He gives a sign and pledge of this by restoring some of the dead to life, announcing thereby His own Resurrection, though it was to be of another order.
>> He speaks of this unique event as the “sign of Jonah,” The sign of the temple: he announces that He will be put to death but rise thereafter on the third day.
>> To be a witness to Christ is to be a “witness to His Resurrection,” to “[have eaten and drunk] with Him after He rose from the dead.”
>> Encounters with the Risen Christ characterize the Christian hope of resurrection. We shall rise like Christ, with Him, and through Him.
>> From the beginning, Christian Faith in the Resurrection has met with incomprehension and opposition.
>> “On no point does the Christian faith encounter more opposition than on the resurrection of the body.”
>> It is very commonly accepted that the life of the human person continues in a spiritual fashion after death. But how can we believe that this body, so clearly mortal, could rise to everlasting life? (CCC # 994-996)
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