Shining a Light Into Darkness – Your Weekly Reflection from CMMB
A Catholic Meditation on the Gospel
Today’s Gospel reading from Mark describes a pretty typical day in Jesus’ ministry. However, after Jesus preaches to the crowd, an astonishing thing happens. A man possessed by a spirit calls out to Jesus. Throughout Mark’s Gospel, spirits and demons seem to know Jesus and are often afraid of him. Jesus orders the spirit to be quiet and drives it out of the man. His ability to heal those possessed by demons is an indication of his power over evil.
In Jesus’ time, illnesses were thought to be manifestations of evil and sinfulness. Possession by “unclean spirits” was a way to describe mental illness or cognitive disability. It was also a way to describe certain kinds of physical conditions or disabilities. In our modern world, these ideas are difficult to understand, but in some of the remote communities where we work, people with mental and physical disabilities are still shunned and stigmatized. Today, we’re sharing the story of Muthania in Kenya. A married mother of six with a cognitive disability, Muthania is an outcast in her community. Her family has been identified by our team as one of the most vulnerable. With severe limitations, Muthania struggles to take care of her family. Her children are a blessing, because they protect their mother and act as her voice.
The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light. – Matthew 4:16
Women living in developing countries with disabilities are some of the most vulnerable people in the world. They are at risk for sexual, physical, and verbal abuse and are often unable to communicate or ask for help. That’s why our teams on the ground are so important. Home visits by community health workers shine light on families living in darkness. They bring health and hope. Read Muthania’s full story by clicking here.
Our mission to serve the poor and heal the sick is inspired by the example of Jesus. And we’re committed to demonstrating our faith in God through our words and deeds. By standing up for those without a voice, like Muthania, we can be a powerful reminder of God’s love and authority.
Stories of Children Living in Extreme Poverty
Baby Kennedy is underweight, even though he is breastfeeding. His family eats only one meal a day, so both mother and baby suffer. Kennedy’s father struggles to support his family with a small business. You could be the angel this family in Kenya needs now.
CLICK HERE to read Kennedy’s story.
Watching baby Faith go hungry brings her mother to tears. Faith is already losing weight and she isn’t even a year old. Her father left to find work and never came back. You can help Faith’s mother feed her children. You can bring hope.
CLICK HERE to read Faith’s story.
In Haiti, Jamescy is seven months old, but he looks much younger. When his mother can’t afford food, the children go hungry. Already malnourished, Jamescy’s health and growth may be affected forever. You can change Jamescy’s life.