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!

Total Offering - Familiarity, Flexibility & Filiality

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

February 2, 2026 - The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Malachi 3: 1-4; Luke 2: 22-40

The readings of today were offered for our reflection only recently, on the 8th day after Christmas. They are given once more today, but they open a whole new perspective today with all that surrounds it liturgically! Today is also the 30th World day of Consecrated life - a message for which from Pope Leo: Consecrated Persons : Prophetic witnesses of peace in a Wounded world.

Keeping all of these in perspective, we have one lovely challenge posed: the Challenge of Total Offering to the Lord. Not just persons in Consecrated Life, but every one of us is called to offer ourselves totally to God and that alone can give us true meaning, happiness and above all true peace in life and to the world.

From the readings of today, we can pick up three signs of our total offering to the Lord:

Familiarity: As the Holy Family which enters the Temple with that ease and eagerness to perform their spiritual duty, so are we called to remain always familiar with the Lord.

Flexibility: Performing the duty was not merely a ritual, even for us it shouldn't be so! We are called to be pliable in the hands of God, as malleable as the silver and gold in the hands of the smith, so that we can become what the Lord wants us to.

Filiality: It is towards filiality that we are ultimately invited, as the Word reminds us repeatedly. This filiality inspired and enthused Jesus to belong to God totally and we are called to imitate the same self-giving!

Let us grow more and more, familiar, flexible and filial - that we could become true testimonies and instruments of peace to this wounded world.