20 January 2022 Mark 3:7-12
Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
POSITIVE POPULARITY
“When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon (Mk 3:8)
Jesus experienced two kinds of responses from Jewish society during his public ministry. They are ‘growing opposition’ and ‘growing popularity’. Firstly, the growing opposition from Pharisees and other Jewish elites. They opposed and plotted to kill Him because they felt Jesus challenging their authority by His words and deeds (Mk 3:6). The popularity of Jesus increased day by day because of His miracles.
Jesus’ response to growing popularity is a point of our attention today. Jesus reminds disciples to keep a boat ready for him because of the crowd. What makes Jesus unique in His approach to popularity is that He never sought it, but always tried to avoid it. It is inherent in human nature to seek popularity (human glory) in different ways like love, affection, affection, position, political power etc. Jesus’ attitude towards popularity reminds us that it is not an experience to be sought, but to be gifted by others to me for a righteous and virtuous life of doing the divine will. Those who try to snatch it from others will sacrifice values. Why some of our politicians become so corrupt is because they seek popularity.
We have hundreds of great people who were so popular and influential in the world without seeking it. For example, Mother Teresa was a very popular and influential person in the world not because she sought it. Pope John Paul II also was very popular in the same way. Today Pope Francis is one of the most influential people in the world not because he seeks it. It is being gifted by the world for an inspirational life.
Everyone wants to be loved. But it is very crucial to think whether someone is lovable. I become a lovable person when I do the will of God. There is nothing wrong with becoming popular. Because popularity is one of the ways to influence the populace. Jesus became popular by doing the will of the Heavenly Father. He only sought the glory of Father. Let us become lovable, popular and influential by doing the will of God. Amen.