Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time [2012]

"The people were so astonished that 

they started asking one another what it all meant, saying, 

'Here is a teaching that is new, and with authority behind it: 

he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.' "

- Mark 1:27

One of the things that make people follow a person is when that person can do something beyond what normal or ordinary people can do. That is why Jesus did not allow the spirits to tell people what they know about Him and even to His disciples He made it clear that they should not tell the people about His being the Son of the living God as Peter has professed.

If Jesus our Lord walked on this earth proclaiming clearly that He was the Son of God, that He was God Himself, the Second Person of the Divine Trinity, it would have been an easy task for Him to accomplish what He was sent for: to tell mankind about God the Father and heaven. But it would have made people think that life is easy and being with God mean pure comfort and convenience even here on earth. Even a small pain or trouble would be considered inordinate or abnormal. They would not believe in the importance of sacrifice and suffering anymore since Jesus would not be allowed to live in poverty for He will be lifted up as an earthly King! He would have a hard time teaching about so many things that necessarily imply hardships for people would demand that since He is God and He is already present He should not allow any trouble anymore!  People would not allow Him to be crucified and He did not have to be resurrected. 

Remember when Jesus went up to the mountain with Peter, James and John where He was transfigured and they did not want to go down the mountain anymore? That would have been what people would experience too if Jesus presented Himself clearly as the Son of God. No more hardships, no need to work, no need to suffer! 

But life on earth is not yet life in heaven. Life on earth is a mere preparation for that eternity in heaven. Unless we prepare ourselves in accordance with the will of God - which includes hardships and sufferings - here on earth we shall never be able to enter that everlasting joy in heaven!

Let us ask God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to give us the grace to prepare very well here on earth that we may become truly worthy of enjoying eternity with Him in heaven!