Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Mary is the first Christian in the New Testament because she believed in the promises that God made to her, she has total trust in God. Like Mary, blessed are those who believe in God’s promises
It is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth
Bartimeus, the blind beggar, is a model for all disciples. He is singularly focused on Jesus as the source of his salvation. He rejoices when he is called, throwing away whatever he holds dear, in faith that what Jesus gives is worth much more.
The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus teaches his disciples about what it means to be a Christian: it is NOT to “lord it” over others. It is to be a servant, the one who waits on tables. And honor is achieved through one’s suffering as a servant.
“Good Master, what must I do to receive eternal life?” “Come and follow me…” It may be difficult for men, but “…all things are possible with God.”
God, who is Love, defines for us–created in His image–what love is. It is the giving up of one’s self, as in a marriage, “so they are no longer two but one body.” It is the trust and hope present in every child’s heart.