A Heart after Christ

Friends in Christ, in the gospel today we see that as soon as Jesus gets out of the boat, people were mobbing him; it says they came from all over, and they brought him those who were sick and they kept wanting to touch him.

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In reading a commentary last night on this passage, it is asked if Jesus, just for once, would have liked people to come to him not just to ‘get something for themselves’, but to give something.

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We all know people who sort of ‘use’ their friends. Some people you never hear from unless they want something from you. They think people exist only to help them with their own needs.

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It’s easy for the young to simply ‘use’ their homes. Home is only there to provide for their needs and comforts, not a place to contribute in the upbuilding of their family.

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Some see the Church as a place to make use of. They show up to baptize their children, or to get married, or for a funeral – otherwise, you never see them. Just give me the ‘service’ that I want!, they seem to say.

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And then there is the Lord Jesus. How often do people ignore him, until they are in great need. It is not uncommon to hear a child in confession say, ‘Father, I feel bad because I only talk to Jesus when I want something.’ Even some sensitive children realize this is not good, I always think there is a beautiful soul in there. Too often we only call to the Lord in our wants.

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For sure, he wants us to ask, he told us this: ‘Ask, and it shall be given; knock, and the door will be opened.’ But how happy Jesus would be if we went to him sometimes, to thank him, to praise him, to embrace him; just to love him.