Reflect today on how steadfast your devotion to our Lord is

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 of them, and as a result, those with diseases pressed on him to touch him. Mark 3: 9–10

It is fascinating to reflect on the enthusiasm that so many people had for Jesus. In the above passage, we see that Jesus asked his disciples to have a boat ready for him so that he would not be crushed while teaching the crowd. He had treated many sick people and the crowd pressed him to try to simply touch him.

This scene provides us with an illustration of what must happen in our inner life regarding our Lord. It can be said that people were steadfast in their devotion to Jesus and fervent in their desire for Him. Of course, their desire may have been selfishly motivated in some way by the desire for physical treatment of their ailments and those of their loved ones, but nevertheless their attraction was real and powerful, prompting them to focus fully on our Lord.

Jesus' choice to get into a boat and get away a little from the crowd was also an act of love. Because? Because this act allowed Jesus to help them focus again on his deeper mission. Although he worked miracles out of compassion and to manifest his almighty power, his main goal was to teach people and lead them to the full truth of the message he was preaching. Therefore, separating from them, they were invited to listen to him rather than try to touch him for the sake of a physical miracle. For Jesus, the spiritual wholeness he wished to give to the crowd had far more significance than any physical healing he himself gave.

In our life, Jesus can "separate" from us in somewhat superficial ways so that we will be more open to the deeper and more transforming purpose of His life. For example, it can remove certain feelings of consolation or allow us to face some trial through which it seems to be less present to us. But when that happens, this is always how we will turn to Him on a deeper level of trust and openness so that we are drawn more deeply into a loving relationship.

Reflect today on how steadfast your devotion to our Lord is. From there, ponder, too, if you are more attached to the good feelings and consolations you seek or if your devotion is deeper, focus more on the transforming message our Lord wants to preach to you. See yourself on that shore, listening to Jesus speak and allow his holy words to transform your life more deeply.

My Savior God, I turn to You today and try to be steadfast in my love and devotion to You. Help me, first of all, to listen to Your transforming Word and to allow that Word to become the central focus of my life. Jesus I believe in you.