Friars Corner: Jesus is calling

by Nancy Ward · June 9, 2018

Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR

Genesis: 3:9-15; Ps 130:1-8; 2 Cor 4:13–5:1; Mark 13:20-35

We have finished recalling most of the amazing things about our faith. Now we go back to ordinary time. We are now looking at the day-to-day ministry in Jesus’ public life. It seems like a great let down and the party is over.

The readings this weekend are not great and hard to put together in a short space especially the various things this gospel passage of St. Mark relates. The Genesis creation story gives us the info after Adam and Eve had eaten from the forbidden fruit. As humans, we live with the aftermath of that story and its on-going effects. What can we do about it?

Jesus is calling to us

Jesus is calling to us, and not from the Garden of Eden. He wants to spend some intimate time with us. Are we hiding from him?

Wherever we are or have been, we always can repent and turn to Jesus for his love and forgiveness. He wants to spend some intimate time with us and fill us with more of his love. That is what I have been sensing about these readings all week. When I was ministering in the Diocese of Dallas during the Year of the Priests, the bishop and all of the priests received a picture of the face of Jesus painted by Bette Myers. On the back of this picture was a list of various prayers that some parishioners sent to us supporting our ministry to them.

The most amazing picture

As a Franciscan friar, I had collected a few pictures of Jesus and had seen many others. The picture of Jesus that we were sent that year was for me the most amazing one I had ever seen. Jesus was not looking to the side or holding a lamb, hanging on the cross or just coming out of the tomb. This picture is just the face of Jesus looking directly at the person holding the picture. His face has a slight smile with blue-grey eyes.

I could attach a copy here but Bette’s son has it copyrighted. I would love to show you this picture. I believe it should be given to every Christian in our country and the world. The love I sense flowing from this picture is truly amazing. You can get a copy for yourself and learn how Bette was sent back to earth to paint this picture of Jesus that he wants all of us to see and love. Go to: http://www.truefaceofjesus.com/index.htm

Look into his eyes

Get a copy for yourself or turn on your computer or cell phone and go to the website and look into Jesus’ eyes. As I look into the eyes of Jesus, I just say, “Jesus, I love you,” over and over again. It is not possible to love Jesus more than he loves us. As we keep saying we love Jesus, something truly amazing begins to fill us up with more of his love.

In the gospel this Sunday very early in Jesus ministry, he had just finished healing and delivering people from evil spirits. Jesus and his companions retired and wanted to rest a little but they were getting flooded with people and not getting time even to eat.

Scribes from Jerusalem accused Jesus of being possessed by the prince of demons. Jesus taught them that a kingdom that is divided in its loyalties cannot survive. A theme we see in other parts of the gospels.

Brothers and sisters of Jesus

Then some of Jesus’ family and friends came wanting to see Jesus. When the disciples told Jesus, he simply looked at those around him and said, “Who are my mother and my brothers? … Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Reading those words of Jesus so impressed me that I wanted to focus your attention on that picture of Jesus and encourage you to get a copy of that picture and tell Jesus how much you love him. The more you spend time telling Jesus you love him, the more you can be filled inside and outside with his loving spiritual power. Have a great week loving Jesus and others.

Blessings,