"Beads of Joy" by RosaryManJim: Crowds Follow Jesus

BEADS OF JOY 01-24-19

“Crowds Follow Jesus”

My Friends,

Today’s Gospel: Mark 3:7-12 (The Mercy of Jesus)
“Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed; also, from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon a great multitude, hearing all that he did, came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they should crush him; for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.”

Reflection:
Jesus drew many large crowds wherever He went. Honestly even today that is very true, or is it? If you do your own research the information you find along with some basic facts so many of us know; it will leave you without a definitive answer. The Vatican said, in a March 9, 2016 report, “over the course of nine years, the number of Catholics worldwide has increased by 17.8 percent, compared to the global population, which increased by 17.3 percent.” Yet overall in many local US cities and towns, church and communities are merging together because of two reasons; lack of attendance and a steady decrease of men entering into the Priesthood. Today’s blog is not about boring you with numbers, rather it is about what we can do. Including prayer, what can we do as Catholics to help unify our communities to help them flourish?

Yes, we’d love to see our numbers increase stronger, and most especially we do not want to see local churches closing or emerging. But, let us think for just a moment about our faith. Our faith is about our own individual experience and relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. Yes, of cause, we have the Catholic Church to guide us and our communities to encourage us, so what can we do? I am a simple man, living a very simple life, so if you don’t think my answer is the pulse of it all, that don’t offend me. I am a cradle Catholic, but for the past 35 years, I have been a very activity ministry leader in our faith, through the Rosary and personally ministering to so many. So, this is what I see.

In our faith, I see 2 parts, public and private. The private part is prayer, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6. The public part is evangelizing, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33. I hope my simple observation makes a little more sense now. I don’t see either of these flourishing right now. Yes, I don’t know all things and yes, I haven’t a clue about someone’s personal private prayer life. All I can go by is how the ministry of people I try to minister too has changed through the years. That is a general statement, but, to me, now it seems more acceptable to be on the side lines, in all things. Meaning, praying in public before meals! Speaking freely and openly about my faith! Defending Jesus’ name in conversation! And just standing up for what we say we believe! Again, this is my own observation.

Mark 3:7-12
Crowds Follow Jesus

Walk With God
w/ Fr. Philip Dabney, C.SS.R

St. Catherine Laboure and
The Miraculous Medal

LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!

Your brother in Christ Jesus
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS

Today is Thursday: We pray the Luminous Mysteries:

The Luminous Mysteries

1. The Baptism of Jesus (Matt 3:13-17)
2. Wedding Feast of Cana (John 2:1-12)
3. Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15)
4. The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13)
5. Institution of the Holy Eucharist (Matt 26:17-30)

Glory and Honor and Praise -Lord Jesus Christ!!