Gospel: Gospel: Mk 3:1–6
Again Jesus entered the synagogue. A man, who had a paralyzed hand, was there and some people watched Jesus: would he heal the
man on the sabbath? If he did, they could accuse him. Jesus said to the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stand here in the center.” Then he asked
them, “What does the Law allow us to do on the Sabbath? To do good or to do harm? To save life or to kill?” But they were silent.

Gospel: Mk 2:23–28
One Sabbath he was walking through grain fields. As his disciples walked along with him, they began to pick the heads of
grain and crush them in their hands. Then the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look! They are doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath!”
And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did in his time of need, when he and his men were very hungry?

Gospel: Mk 2:18–22
One day, when the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist were fasting, some people asked Jesus, “Why is it that
both the Pharisees and the disciples of John fast, but yours do not?” Jesus answered, “How can the wedding guests fast while the
bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the day will come when the

Gospel: Jn 1:35-42
On the following day, John was standing there again, with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and said, “There is the
Lamb of God.” On hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. He turned and saw them following, and he said to them, “What are you looking for?”
They answered, “Rabbi (which means Master), where are you staying?” Jesus said, “Come and see.” So they went and
saw where he stayed, and spent the rest of that day with him. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard what
John had said, and followed Jesus. Early the next morning, he found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means the Christ),
and he brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John, but you shall be called Cephas” (which means Rock).

LECTIO DIVINA:

READ: John publicly identifies Jesus as the “lamb of God.” Two of his disciples
immediately followed Jesus. And having seen the Lord up close and personal,
Andrew, who is one of the two, sought his brother Simon Peter and recruited
him for Jesus convinced that he at last found the Messiah of Israel. Simon Peter
would be identified by Jesus as the Rock without further clarifying what it means.

REFLECT: There are people who are not diminished when their importance
wanes. They are not insecure nor try to recapture their fading glory by
extraordinary means. These are the people who knows that their worth is not
on what they have, but on how they become after responding to their calling in
life. Honor, power and wealth do not matter. It is the sense of having done what
you are supposed to do with your life that is more important. John is one of these
blessed people of contentment. He did not stop his disciples when they decided
to follow Jesus. He was even instrumental in their departure from him when he
identified Jesus as the lamb of God. He is not jealous of the rising importance
of Jesus. He is not there to compete but to do God’s will. When our purpose is
clear, we are saved from many unwanted desires which are the source of pain.
John did what he was supposed to do. Because of this, no man born of a woman
is greater than John the Baptist (Mt. 11,11)

RESPOND: Let us spend time to know what is God’s purpose why He created
us. Knowing our mission in life narrows our search for meaning. And so, let us
begin with our name. What is the meaning of our name? Perhaps encapsulated
in that is our purpose in life. John’s name means “God is gracious.” He showed
God’s grace all the days of his life. That is why he is contented.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2021