Jesus, you want to come to Zaccheus’ house and dine with him. ‘Want’ is the operative word to me. You touch Zaccheus’ heart. I want you to want to be with me too. Please come, Jesus, into my heart and home. Thank you.
Who am I? I am deaf. Pulled in many directions by the crowd. Overwhelmed by the chaos and voices of too many. I need to work hard to see Jesus and understand what he is trying to tell me. I am spent, embarrassed. My job has run out. I’ve given what I thought was my best, but it wasn’t enough. I am a sell out. I’ve separated myself from my brothers and sisters in need and put my myself, my comfort, my security first. Who are You? One who finds a way to pull me aside and show me what God intends for em. One who heals me. One who shows me that there is more, and promises that there is MUCH more, one who offers abundance... but proves that it will come in surprising ways, ways I can’t imagine. One who comes to me as I am and loves anyway. One who takes the initiative to offer friendship. Jesus, can you teach me to follow your example? Teach me to be, to do all these things for others.
From Matthew 7:31-37; John 2:1-12; Luke 19:1-10 [Three men enter and face the audience, each speaking in turn, as if giving testimony.] Man 1: He led me away from the crowd unable, as I was, to speak or hear motioned me close wet fingers suddenly on my face, in my ears, on my tongue. I pulled back, but he pulled me closer his glance upward his groan and that word tumbling out - “Eph-pha-tha!” and I was suddenly opened the sounds around me as much music as the cantor’s voice I had only imagined. Man 2: I failed, forgot the obvious a waiter at a feast without enough wine threw up my hands nowhere to turn at that late hour. In the corner of my eye I saw a quiet conversation between mother and son couldn’t hear but the gestures were clear: “Help them,” she implored. He nodded, reluctantly. She approached me, saying: “Do whatever he asks.” His command simple: “Fill the jars with water.” I scoffed but did. “Now draw some out,” he said, almost instantly. I dipped in and brought the cup to my lips ready to spit out the lukewarm nothingness of water but instead received the very finest saved until the end when it was needed most the beginning of faith revealed in a sudden unexpected taste. Man 3: I am just a wee little man so even the children pointed and laughed as I scampered up the sycamore. I just wanted a glimpse recognition that I was hoping for a wave or a nod. My expectations were quickly exceeded he saw me sought me out invited me down and to table (my own) even as the crowd sneered. But I am changed, have no choice but to change have gained a companion was lost, now found unseen, seen. Chorus (the three, all together): In the short distance between us. He whispered: I see you. All we really wanted was to be seen. Man 1: Opened. Man 2: Astounded. Man 3: Invited. All: Changed.
Thank you Fr. Mark, beautiful reflections on the 3 gospels. It’s all about being attentive to others and their needs. Jesus increase my awareness of other and to be a better disciple of yours!
This is getting off the track a bit, but in the light of the saying `be wise as serpents, innocent as doves' perhaps it has some bearing: Was it Confucio or some other east Asian sage who said that the best government is a government that one hardly notices? (If you grant that Switzerland is a well-governed country -- Who ever heard of the prime minister of Switzerland?) If this is so, then our Lord's doing good quietly, attentively & companionably is perhaps good worldly sense as well as good heavenly sense. Greetings from Coorparoo in Queensland!
I am still retreating, just a few days behind. But 1/2 the way. You retreat has been very good, and I am looking forward to the next half. Thank You Father Mark!
I have been participating in the retreat and I find it very interesting, inspiring, and thought provoking. I like the way Father Mark relates his personal stories to the themes of the scriptures. Thanks Father Mark.
Jesus, you want to come to Zaccheus’ house and dine with him. ‘Want’ is the operative word to me. You touch Zaccheus’ heart. I want you to want to be with me too. Please come, Jesus, into my heart and home. Thank you.
Thank you, Fr. Matk, for a wonderful new way of contmplating these miracles.
You are truly inspired.
God bless !
Have not heard these miracles ever explained as you did!
New reflection for me. Thank you Fr. 💙
I'm really enjoying this retreat!
Who am I? I am deaf. Pulled in many directions by the crowd. Overwhelmed by the chaos and voices of too many. I need to work hard to see Jesus and understand what he is trying to tell me. I am spent, embarrassed. My job has run out. I’ve given what I thought was my best, but it wasn’t enough. I am a sell out. I’ve separated myself from my brothers and sisters in need and put my myself, my comfort, my security first. Who are You? One who finds a way to pull me aside and show me what God intends for em. One who heals me. One who shows me that there is more, and promises that there is MUCH more, one who offers abundance... but proves that it will come in surprising ways, ways I can’t imagine. One who comes to me as I am and loves anyway. One who takes the initiative to offer friendship. Jesus, can you teach me to follow your example? Teach me to be, to do all these things for others.
Beautiful insight...
From Matthew 7:31-37; John 2:1-12; Luke 19:1-10
[Three men enter and face the audience, each speaking in turn, as if giving testimony.]
Man 1:
He led me away from the crowd
unable, as I was, to speak or hear
motioned me close
wet fingers suddenly on my face, in my ears, on my tongue.
I pulled back, but he pulled me closer
his glance upward
his groan and that word tumbling out - “Eph-pha-tha!”
and I was suddenly opened
the sounds around me as much music
as the cantor’s voice
I had only imagined.
Man 2:
I failed, forgot the obvious
a waiter at a feast without enough wine
threw up my hands
nowhere to turn at that late hour.
In the corner of my eye I saw
a quiet conversation between mother and son
couldn’t hear but the gestures were clear:
“Help them,” she implored. He nodded, reluctantly.
She approached me, saying: “Do whatever he asks.”
His command simple: “Fill the jars with water.”
I scoffed but did.
“Now draw some out,” he said, almost instantly.
I dipped in and brought the cup to my lips
ready to spit out the lukewarm nothingness of water
but instead received the very finest
saved until the end when it was needed most
the beginning of faith revealed in a sudden unexpected taste.
Man 3:
I am just a wee little man
so even the children pointed and laughed
as I scampered up the sycamore.
I just wanted a glimpse
recognition that I was
hoping for a wave or a nod.
My expectations were quickly exceeded
he saw me
sought me out
invited me down and to table (my own)
even as the crowd sneered.
But I am changed, have no choice but to change
have gained a companion
was lost, now found
unseen, seen.
Chorus (the three, all together):
In the short distance between us.
He whispered: I see you.
All we really wanted
was to be seen.
Man 1: Opened.
Man 2: Astounded.
Man 3: Invited.
All: Changed.
THank you !
So beautiful!
Absorbing your insights. Thank you. Blessed!
Thank you Father Mark. I had never understood the miracle deaf man before. The tenderness is overwhelming. Lesley
Thank you Fr. Mark, beautiful reflections on the 3 gospels. It’s all about being attentive to others and their needs. Jesus increase my awareness of other and to be a better disciple of yours!
Never seen the instances in the way you explained Fr.
So, I've got a mnemonic for today's reflection: communication, care and companionship. That's what Jesus models for His disciples.
Be Open. Reflecting on that today.
This is getting off the track a bit, but in the light of the saying `be wise as serpents, innocent as doves' perhaps it has some bearing:
Was it Confucio or some other east Asian sage who said that the best government is a government that one hardly notices? (If you grant that Switzerland is a well-governed country -- Who ever heard of the prime minister of Switzerland?)
If this is so, then our Lord's doing good quietly, attentively & companionably is perhaps good worldly sense as well as good heavenly sense.
Greetings from Coorparoo in Queensland!
Thank you, Father for giving us a glimpse of the interior of Jesus.
Companionship
I am still retreating, just a few days behind. But 1/2 the way. You retreat has been very good, and I am looking forward to the next half. Thank You Father Mark!
I have been participating in the retreat and I find it very interesting, inspiring, and thought provoking.
I like the way Father Mark relates his personal stories to the themes of the scriptures.
Thanks Father Mark.
As we have reached the halfway point of the retreat, I had a few thoughts about what has gone before.
15 September 20 R4 D 15.Thank you.
15 August 20 R3 D15,Thank you.
15 August 20 R3 D15.Thank you.
15 Oct 20 R5 D15.Thank you.
15 Nov 20. R6 D15. Thank you.
15 march 21 R10 D15.Thank you
15 Feb 21. R9 D15. Thank you.
15 Dec 20 R7 D15.Thanks.
15 Jan 21. R8 D15. Thank you.