Where Are The Crowds Today?

 

  Mk 3:7-12

Crowds Follow Jesus

⁷ Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. ⁸ 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. ⁹ Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. ¹⁰ For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. ¹¹ Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

As disconcerting as it might have been for Jesus to be inundated by the crowds who wanted healing, he might be just as disconcerted by the lack of crowds or interest in his message today. A growing decline is evident in smaller congregations gathering on Sundays and even in the closing of churches due to empty pews or lack of clerical leaders. Where is the spark of faith?  What can I do to kindle a renewal of my faith and that of the faith community to which I belong? People blame others, i.e. the clergy scandals, the this and that's but in the end it comes down to each individual to do some sincere soul searching and cast out whatever is holding them back from full participation in their faith communities. May our reflections renew our fervor and help us bring others back to the practice of their faith.

Bro, Rene

Dear God, renew my spirit and practice of the faith and use me to help others renew theirs. Amen.