In today’s Gospel, we can see what the ministry of Jesus was like, and the impact it had. So many people flocked to Jesus that He asked his disciples to get a boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. Such was the hunger and desire they had to be near Jesus. One of the reasons people were responding to Jesus was because of the compassion He had for them. Jesus had compassion and love for all people; for the sick, the lost, the lonely, the homeless, the marginalized, everyone, and He never turned anyone away.
He longed for people to be healed in body, mind, and spirit; for this reason, He met all kinds of people in different places, in synagogues, in boats, in towns, in the countryside, in busy places, in lonely places. However, crowded or under pressure, Jesus always had time for people, and He never turned anyone away.
How does this compare to our Church today? How does this compare to us as disciples of Jesus Christ? Do we show the same love, concern and compassion as Jesus demonstrated? Do we make time for people in need, and what about people who are different to us, who have different views and opinions to us? Would we welcome the outcast and the stranger if they came to our church today?
Jesus had love and compassion for all He met. Jesus always had time for people; He never turned anyone away. My dear brothers and sisters, the calling of the Christian faith is to follow the example of Jesus Christ. How do we compare to Him?