4th Week in Ordinary Time (C) : Saturday 8th February 2025

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hb 13:16) This resonates with the motive of hope. Hope is never an abstract idea. It is a working word. Concretely, it is precisely the fulfillment of Jesus’ sacrifice that we see hope in people who transmit a more meaningful life. Hope is always associated with doing good and sharing the benefits that we are privileged to have. Hope is never compatible with ill will or earning gain or fame corruptly. It satisfies the true longing of humanity. Indeed, our humble Pope Benedict XVI said “The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life.”

The hope that Jesus propagates is at once universal and very particular. In today’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus identified the needs of the disciples and the crowds; rest for the exhausted disciples and guidance for the aimless crowds. On the other hand, the disciples and the crowds identify Jesus as their hope. The joy and satisfaction that the disciples experienced cannot be kept but must be reported and shared, they wanted Jesus to marvel at them. Jesus assured that this need to be listened to must be done in a quiet place. While this is being affirmed, the aimless crowd was expecting something too. And Jesus saw their need for compassion and taught them many things. Jesus did not simply discard them.

Lord, guide us to identify and give recognition to the greater needs today.