Friday: 5^th Week in Ordinary Time-B:

I Reading: 1Kings 11:29-32; 12:19: Israel has been separated from the House of David.

Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37: He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.

The Verdict Sought for One’s Service: Doing Everything Well

This passage includes a phenomenal verdict about Jesus: “He has done all things well” (v.37). The day is coming when God is going to pronounce His verdict, his judgement upon every person. Every person is determining exactly what God’s verdict will be. How? By the way he/she lives.

The verdict Christ wants pronounced every person is, “He has done everything well” (v.37). “Well done thou good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:21). How can we be assured of such a verdict by God? Jesus shows us in this passage.

1.     He looked after his own personal needs and the needs of his own loved ones (the disciples) (v. 31)

2.     He listened to the pleas of people for help (32)

3.     He was considerate of the feelings and conditions of others (33)

4.     He trusted God for power (34-35)

5.     He sought no personal applause or praise of people (36)

6.     He demanded a verdict: “He has done everything well.”

Thought: The source of the person’s healing was Jesus. The miracle was proof that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (Is 35:5-6) and it was a demonstration of tender consideration for the needs and feelings of others- a strong lesson for every believer.