Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37
Throughout the Gospels we find Jesus repeatedly telling those he healed not to tell anyone about this event in their life. In fact, the instruction is given in the most urgent of terms, and every single time the healed person ignores this command. They go off and tell others about this event in their lives. The only one who responds to Jesus appropriately after being healed is Peter's mother-in-law, who simply gets up and serves others.
Modern Christianity operates in the exact opposite of the Gospel pattern. Everyone is testifying about Jesus and what God is doing in their lives. It is a lucrative business, too. But are we really testifying about Jesus, or is it really just about us? If it were about Jesus, we would do as he asks and say nothing and instead we would just get up and serve others humbly and quietly.
What might the world and the Church look like if we followed this Gospel pattern, if we stopped testifying and just served others in quiet simplicity? Perhaps our ministries to the poor and sick would have far more resources than our praise bands and "offices of evangelization", our shelters caring for others a greater priority than rectories and episcopal residences. More importantly, our own lives will be centered on care for others than our own egos, the common good a greater priority than our self-interest.
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