Homily for 21 Jan 2016

21 January 2016

The crowds loved Jesus; they followed him everywhere, it seems.  And Jonathan was very much devoted to David; he was David’s most faithful companion.  But, whereas the crowds were really focused on what Jesus could do for them, Jonathan was interested in what he could do for David.

Of course, it’s good to rely on the Lord; it’s good and it’s necessary.  But something in our relationship with the Lord changes when we can say to him: “How can I help you?  What can I do for you?”  And that’s the question Jonathan was always wondering about when it came to David.

As much as Jesus is God and he is there for us, he still needs our help to see his mission accomplished.  We might not be called on to shed our blood, like St Agnes and all the martyrs.  But there’s something each of us can do to show our devotion to Christ and his mission.  Maybe it’s giving some canned goods to the food pantry.  Maybe it’s reaching out to a fellow parishioner and saying “hello,” just to let them know that they matter.  Maybe it’s by being quiet and not gossiping.

We can and we should go to Jesus when we’re in need.  But, today, perhaps we can deepen our relationship with him even more, by saying: “Lord, what can I do for you?  What do you need from me?”