They call you strange! Does it matter?

WORD 2day: 4th Tuesday in Ordinary time

February 3, 2026 - 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30-19:3; Mark 5: 21-43.

Sometimes we might appear 'strange' to those around us.

 

David appears so, in today's first reading at least to those who brought him the news of the death of his son Absalom. For those who were close to David, it seemed well deserved that Absalom met with such an end for all that he had done to David; but for David, it was unbearable; he cries inconsolably. He appears strange for the people who wanted to celebrate the victory. 

Jesus looks strange to those around, when he asks who is that who touched him, when there was a whole multitude that was crushing him! He appears strange when he tells those people at Jairus' house, 'the child is sleeping.' In fact, the disciples expressed their surprise and the people ridiculed him. 

However, there is an element here in these cases, that the people around could not see - that which made it natural for Jesus (and for David). But for the people, it was strange. The element in reference here is, the capacity to see everything from the eyes of God and comprehend  everything from the perspective of God! 

When David looked at it from the perspective of God, it was his loving child who was dead! When Jesus felt the touch from the perspective of God, it was a special touch of intense prayer and when He saw the child on the death bed, it was God's glory yet to be revealed. When we look at our own successes, failures, difficulties, trials, temptations and struggles from the eyes of God - they will have completely different meanings - could be 'strange' for others, but truly 'miracles' for ourselves!