18 January | Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Reading : 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7 Gospel M k 3:7-12 Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known. Reflections: A large crowd followed Jesus from various regions to hear him and seek his healing. Jesus' compassion and power to heal are evident, as people with diseases eagerly push forward to touch him. This is a common experience we have today; people flock to the places wherever a miraculous healing has ta