Friday 5th in Ordinary Time
«He has done all things well»
+ Fr. Joan MARQUÉS i Suriñach (Vilamarí, Girona, Spain)
Today, the Gospel presents us with a miracle of Jesus: he makes the deaf hear and the mute speak. The people was astonished and said: «He has done all things well» (Mk 7:37).
This is Jesus' biography as narrated by his contemporaries. A short but complete biography. Who is this Jesus? He is who has done all things well. In the double sense of the word: in the what and the how, in the substance and the manner. He is who has only done good deeds, and who has done them well, perfectly and properly finished. Jesus is a person that does everything well, because He does only good works, and those He does, He delivers well finished. He does not leave anything unfinished; nor does He leave it to be finished later on.
—Why don't you also try to leave everything ready now: your prayers; treating your family and other people; your work; the apostolate; your diligence to develop yourself both spiritually and professionally... Be demanding with yourself, and be also demanding, softly, but demanding, with those depending upon you. Do not tolerate any shoddiness. God dislikes them and they bother your fellowmen. Do not take this attitude just to pretend, nor because this procedure is the most profitable one, even from a human point of view; do it because God does not like “bad” works nor “good” things done badly. The Holy Scripture asserts: «The works of God are perfect» (Deut 32:4). And the Lord, through Moses, tells the People of Israel: «Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf» (Lev 22:20). Ask for the maternal help of the Virgin Mary, as Jesus also did.
Saint Josemaria offers us the secret to succeed: «Do what you should and watch what you do». Is this how you behave?