A Friend Who Is With Me
by Fr. David M. Knight
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Week IV in Ordinary Time
Lectionary No.
1 Kings 2:1-12; Responsorial: 1Chronicles 29; Mark 6:7-13
"He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but…" Mark 6:8
There is only one reason why Jesus would send out his disciples with no provisions. It meant he would be with them. And not just to provide for them. It said they depended on him—and could depend on him—for anything they hoped to accomplish.
Jesus said it even more clearly later: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5I).
Let’s not miss the promise here: Jesus is saying he will be with us—and act with us, in us, and through us—in everything he sends us to do.
We will never be alone. Our life is a partnership with Christ. He “sends us” to do everything we do. We are his body; he is always speaking and acting with us, in us, and through us, if we just cooperate with him—with a hyphen: co-operate. As partners.
Paul uses the prefix “co-” thirty times to express our union with Jesus. For example, we “co-live” and “co-work” with him (Romans 6:8; 2Corinthians 6:1).
The key mystery of Christian identity is “Christ in us” (Colossians 1:27).
Friendship is interaction. Interact with Jesus and he will always be there for you.
ACTION: Whenever you say “Goodbye” (“God be with you”), mean it.
PRAYER: “Lord, be with me. Let me be with you.”
Reflections brought to you by the Immersed in Christ Ministry
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