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A Change in Our Hearts is the Difference Between Being Friends With the Lord or Distancing Us From Him

Fr. Hugh Gillespie, SMM

A Change in Our Hearts is the Difference Between Being Friends With the Lord or Distancing Us From Him

 

In today’s reading (audio not included), as well as in the Gospel, there is significant activity among the people.

The reading depicts the king and his soldiers, with townspeople emerging to welcome and celebrate their victory. Meanwhile, the Gospel narrates encounters with people, particularly the sick, who approach Our Lord. From surrounding nations, a multitude flocks to Jesus, not only to rejoice but also in desperate need.

Crowds don’t just come to listen to Jesus; they come seeking healing, revealing the profound sense of neediness in the world. This overwhelming demand is elaborated upon in the Homily.

When the Lord requests a boat to address the crowd without being overwhelmed, it highlights the unique capacity of Our Lord to handle the multitude’s needs. Unlike any other man, He can manage the immense numbers seeking help.

Even malevolent spirits acknowledge the goodness of Jesus, identifying Him as the Son of Man. Jesus commands them to be silent, reflecting the recognition of goodness as a threat by evil forces. The significance of this dynamic in our contemporary context is explored further.

The first king of the Jews, Saul, not David, is mentioned in the initial reading. Both readings, along with the Gospel, delve into the nature of the human heart.

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A Change in Our Hearts is the Difference Between Being Friends With the Lord or Distancing Us From Him

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Saul and David: Dutch Painter: Rembrandt: 1651

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A Change in Our Hearts is the Difference Between Being Friends With the Lord or Distancing Us From Him

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