A Friend Who Cares For Us
by Fr. David M. Knight
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Week IV in Ordinary Time; St. Blaise, Bishop & Martyr; St. Ansgar, Bishop
Lectionary No. 328
1 Kings 3:4-13; Psalm 119; Mark 6:30-34
"His heart was moved with pity for them..." Mark 6:34
Jesus was “deeply moved” because his people “were like sheep without a shepherd.” This tells us he is the kind of friend who takes care of people, and wants others to take care of them. His great “pastoral commandment” is: “Do you love me?... Feed my sheep!” (John 21:17).
God showed the same caring love when he said to Solomon: “Ask something of me,” and Solomon asked for “an understanding heart to judge your people.” It pleased God that Solomon wanted a gift that would help him take care of his people.
Jesus is always taking care of us—inspiring us to take care of others, inspiring others to take care of us. Friendship with Jesus benefits everyone.
The Psalm tells us how to experience this friendship: “Lord, teach me… With all my heart I seek you… by keeping to your words… In the way of your decrees I rejoice.” These are concrete actions and conscious feelings. Friendship with Jesus is both effective and affective. If we express our feelings about our relationship with Jesus, we will experience it. Expressing our feelings also helps us live them out. Then we will experience our friendship with him even more clearly.
Friendship is interaction. Interact with Jesus and he will shepherd you. And shepherd others through you.
ACTION: Express how you feel about the way Jesus feels about you.
PRAYER: “Lord, do this with me, do this in me, do this through me.”
Reflections brought to you by the Immersed in Christ Ministry
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