KnoW Jesus in a personal Way
We often hear the stock phrase, “Walang personalan, trabaho lang” in situations where people are wont to do their work faithfully and diligently without allowing their personal life to affect them; or, in situations where one affects other people personally with his or her action and he justifies the action as “trabaho lang.”
There are situations in life when one needs to detach himself personally from his work, like in the case of counselors of their clients or doctors of their patients. Otherwise, the work may suffer. If a counselor gets too involved personally, his objectivity can be affected. There are cases of doctors not wanting to perform surgeries on family members because they are “paralyzed” even with just the thought of it. So, this situation is indeed justified.
But there are situations when such an order does not apply. Take today’s gospel for example. Jesus would have been content with the thought that Peter has reached this point in his life that he has substantial knowledge of Jesus that he has acquired from “others.” But Jesus wanted something more from him. Jesus wanted Peter to have a personal knowledge of Him.
This is a constant theme in the life of Jesus with His disciples. He commended Mary for choosing the better part and it shall not be taken from her, He said. He wanted first to be assured of Peter’s love for Him before He gave him the mandate to feed His sheep. He chose the twelve apostles first, to be with Him and, second, to be sent out to proclaim the message (Mark 3:14).
As Christians, we need to develop a more intimate and personal relationship with Jesus and allow everything else to flow from that. Our minds are probably filled to the brim with knowledge of Jesus coming from others. The time is already rife for us to claim those knowledge for our selves. Fr. Sandy Enhaynes
Reflection Question:
Do you know Jesus in a personal way?
Jesus, I long to know You intimately as my Savior, brother and friend. Draw me to You
with Your grace and love.
St. Margaret of Cortona, penitent, pray for us.