MONDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME MEMORIAL OF ST JOHN BOSCO JANUARY 31, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Mk 5:1-20

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

REFLECTION

"Go home to your family and announce all that the Lord in his pity has done for you."

A block away from my home in Laredo, Texas was an orphanage run by the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco. They were called the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

Every summer the children of the neighborhood were invited to join them for religion, life skill classes, and fun in a safe environment. I learned how to embroider and cook. The most important lesson learned, however, was the love of God through the nuns for the children. Our summers were truly happy.

The nuns had taken the place of the parents for the orphan. They were patient, caring, firm but kind. Kids being kids, the tasks of the nuns were difficult motivating the impetuous and willful child.

And they did it with a smile, never showing their anger or frustration.

Jesus does the same with us. He puts up with our failures, ignorance, misuse of our free will, infidelity and sinfulness. He treats us all with love and kindness but He is firm. We are filled with hope for His mercy if we keep His commandments and follow Him.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

Through baptism we became adoptive children of God. Let us behave as He has taught us. No contempt, no anger, no insults and in humility go to God for the Kingdom of God belongs to His children.

God bless you.