Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
REFLECTION
Accompanying Him
Jesus traveled from town to town proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Many accompanied Jesus on His journeys.
We can admire Jesus from a distance, but those who accompanied Him actually walked the same dusty roads, accepted inconveniences, dealt with many different personalities and shared the difficulties of life together.
There can be many people accompanying Jesus who annoy us: the parishioner who cuts in line for confession, those who talk too much, those who want everything done their own way, the late arrivers for Mass and sit right in front of you or those who simply get on our nerves.
And if we are truthful, we know something else: sometimes we are one of those annoying people.
This is the community of the Church. God has brought us together, and through the people He places in our lives, He may be asking us: "Can you love this person for me?"
St Paul reminds us that love is patient and kind. It is not jealous, pompous, inflated or rude. Love rejoices with the Truth.
Perhaps one of the ways we encounter God is through the very people He has placed in our lives. They, too, are loved by God. They, too, are being formed by Him--- just as we are.
Let us use the spiritual gifts God has given us to build up one another, remembering that holiness is often learned in the ordinary challenges of living, serving, and walking together.
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