FOLLOW PEOPLE HOME
(Mark 1:29- 39)
We live in a world 'onye obula
magidere uwa judge', where ngwere nile makpu onweghi onye ma nke afo na
aru" (people try to cover their pains and move on).
Jesus in today's Gospel calls
upon us to look beyond the appearances of people. He calls on us to see beyond the daily
activities of people. He invites us to see what lies behind the many smiles we
see. He wants us to see what our people try to leave at home when they go out
and what they meet at home when they come back. People are seriously suffering.
A lot of people are frustrated. Others have got used to suffering. Some are
affected by their pains and sorrows. Many people are just waiting for the day
death will strike. A good number of them are hopeless and helpless too. Some
are sick and tired, and their loved ones are heartbroken and still try to move
on with life.
In the face of all these, what is
Jesus telling us? What is the attitude of Jesus for those whose relatives have
become a burden unto them and those who are sick and needy?
The Gospel of today will help us
find out. Simon followed Jesus to the synagogue but a problem waited for him at
home. Jesus surprises him with a visit.
GIVE AN UNOFFICIAL VISIT
The Gospel of today tells us that
Jesus left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew. He never
announced why. Mark did not tell us if Simon or Andrew informed Jesus about the
sick in-law till He got there.
Jesus might have seen the
absentminded Simon. He might have seen the worried man. He might have noticed
the coverups. He might have perceived the distractions. He realised that
everything was not alright. We can't hide our real beings from the Lord. He
knows us more than we know ourselves. He is concerned about the changes that
occur in our lives. He is disturbed about the disturbances we go through. Hence,
He wants to see the 'unofficial us'. He wants to see us at home. He follows us
to the locus of our problems. He tries to make us know that He cares.
This is an important message for
us. "Iri kpole? Ji agwo onye oria" (Checking on people gives
them great relieve and sense of belonging). Can we learn from Jesus the virtue
of checking on people and being sensitive to their plights and troubles? In
concrete life situations, do we try to know why that our worker who used to do
well in the past is no longer doing well? Do we inquire into the reason why
that student who was good suddenly became dull? Before we think of sack letter
and querying do we think of what made the person to come late for work? He may
be suffering untold hardships. You may be doubling his sorrows. Try to know
why. Visit his lonely state.
WHAT YOU WILL SEE
Jesus saw Simon's in-law lying
sick with fever. Could it be Simon was troubled by how to get money to take her
to the hospital? Could it be that Peter's wife gave him little attitude for not
doing anything about her mother's sickness last night? Nwoke na ife! All
these became clear to Jesus when he came to Peter's home. When you follow
people home your attitude towards them will change. Your demands on them will
change. You will know why they do the way they do. You will know why they ask
for their salaries before the end of the month. You will know why you shouldn't
slash their pay unnecessarily. You will know how many children they are
feeding. You will see beyond the ironed uniform they wear to work and see that
they have a leaking roof. You will see that the only meal they eat is the
groundnut and biscuit you share in the office.
LET US FOLLOW PEOPLE HOME
We need to follow each other to
our homes. The Government should follow the citizens home and see the tears
they shed on daily basis. When the Government accompanies the poor citizens
home they will certainly know why they must pay salaries without delay. They
will see how many retirees they have murdered and those of them still battling
with death while the money they worked for is in the hands of criminal leaders.
They will see the number of intelligent school dropouts. They will see what
hunger has done to people. They will see many indulging in crimes unwillingly
as the only way out. They will see joblessness caused by lack of connection.
When we follow people home, we may cry seeing what they sleep and wake with. We
must see talents wasting away. We see teenagers engrossed in alcoholism. We need to visit homes, not only of the rich
but also of the poor, the sick and the unloved. Yes, even that rich person you
see outside has his or her problems, let's consider the home situations of one
another.
DO YOU KNOW HIM/ HER TO THE
HOME?
This question will help us in our
daily encounter with people. We live more of social media life nowadays. We
focus more on what people bring outside. It is good to go home with them. The
angel you see outside may not be an angel at home. The one you see to be bad
may not be as bad as you think. Do some homework to know what is responsible
for people's behaviours. Then, be of help.
HELP LIFT PEOPLE UP
The visit of Jesus cheered the
entire home of Simon and Andrew up. Jesus took his mother-in-law by the hand
and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she served them.
Let the Government lay a helping
hand on our people and lift them up. Let the "men of God" stop deceiving
our people and lift them up with the truth. Let us as individuals see what
people are going through and think out in our various little ways how to reduce their pain or liberate them entirely
from their plights. Let us no longer be careless in our dealings with people.
Let us try not to inflict hardship but expel them. Let us bring healing and not
cause injuries. Let us hug people and not make them "hug
transformers", let us wipe tears and not cause them. Let us help people up
and not bring them down. May God help us by the grace that flows from His heart
of compassion and love.
LET US PRAY
Thank You Jesus for coming down
to us through Your Holy Word. Look down from above and see Oh Lord what Your
children are passing through in the world. See the killings, see the
injustices, see the hunger, see the tears, see the heartbreaks, see the
poverty, see the diseases. Intervene Oh Lord without delay. Give us grace to be
compassionate to the sorrowful and considerate with regard to what they go
through. Touch our leaders and make them feel the problems they put people
through by playing selfish and devilish politics. Answer our unspoken prayers
and the grieves and sighs of our hearts through Christ our Lord. Amen
Happy Sunday to you (5th Sunday,
Ordinary Time, Yr B)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
Image from: Healing of Peter's mother-in-law - Miracles of Jesus (itisbygrace2.com)
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