Coffee With God

Reflection: Mark 3:7-12

Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Sebastian a Roman martyr of the 3rd Century. He is venerated as a protector from epidemics and as a patron of plague victims. Let us invoke the powerful intercession of St. Sebastian for deliverance from this pandemic and healing of all those who are suffering due to Covid-19 and its numerous variants. We have learned a thing or two about sacrifice this past year. 5.5 million people have lost their lives in the past two years due to the pandemic. Our faith, patience and trust certainly have been challenged and tested with the loss of jobs, financial struggles and living with the trauma, while having restrictions on access to liturgy and sacraments. The Church, that is we, have a big role to play in this time of illness and fear. We have a mission to bring healing to the wounded humanity. People from all corners of the region flocked to the shores of Galilee to touch Jesus and be healed by him. Healing remained a major part of the mission of the Jesus and he demanded the same from his followers. We are asked to heal the sick, to care for the brothers and sisters in need. The devil knows the identity of Jesus more than anyone else. “You are the Son of God.” Does it not sound strange that this recognition of his identity does not come from his chosen disciples, but from the possessed people. Mark gives an important lesson to his readers through the response of Jesus. He shuts them up. Jesus refuses to take such accolades from the evil forces. Devil is deceptive. But Jesus refuses to entertain any such a conversation. Who doesn’t love to be appreciated and acknowledged by the public of their achievements and merits? But when we work for establishing God’s Kingdom, all glory belongs to God and not to us. Our services in our Church communities becomes meaningful only when we stop running behind honours and accolades. Let us not be tricked by the devil to search for our personal glory. We are commissioned to radiate the healing and love of Jesus for others through our witness of life. We should be inspired by people like Saint Sebastian, and numerous saints of the past; and more importantly, hundreds of thousands of people who risk their own lives to be at the service of their brothers and sisters. My prayer on this day is that the heroic examples of the saints inspire me to live out my convictions with courage.