Mark 5,1-20

Let us all remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel: Mark 5,1-20
Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes.
When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him.
The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain.
In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him.
Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.
Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!”
(He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”)
He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.”
And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory.
Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside.
And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.”
And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned.
The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened.
As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear.
Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine.
Then they began to beg him to leave their district.
As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him.
But he would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”
Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

Reflection
Most of the time we fear those that we don’t understand. Learning the acts of Jesus, dispelling the demons out of the man and into the pigs, they pleaded that Jesus leave their place, instead of being thankful that one of their problems is solved. Our fear keeps us from gaining what is good and evil. We feel uneasy when the status quo have been disrupted. We don’t want to change what we are to even if there’s a possibility of better things. How are conquering your fears?

Lasallian Guiding Principle
LGP states that, “Lasallian institutions must strive to develop among its members greater recognition of the realities of human suffering and stewardship role that shares in preserving the integrity of God’s creation and creating a humane and just society.” It is natural for us to help. Some of us are doing volunteer works like participating in relief operations. There is this space in our hearts that when someone is in need that space is moving us to help in his or her difficulties. Lasallians are called to come together, to collaborate to be able to do greater things.

Prayer
O merciful and loving God, You alone are the Holy One. We can find strength in You. We do not ask You to take away all our trials. But we say that ‘Your will be done.” Give us a heart that is strong enough to face the worst; a mind that forgets what is bad; and a soul that shall never lose faith in You. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Your Son. Amen.
Our Lady of the Star, pray for us!
St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us!
St. Miguel Febres Cordero, pray for us!
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Value: Communion in Mission (Nurturing Mission)
Culture Theme: We collaborate with a society of communities.
Productivity Theme: Good Citizenship
Week 1: We help one another especially in difficult times.

Sources:
C. (n.d.). Daily Gospel. Retrieved January 30, 2019, from https://dailygospel.org/M/AM/
DLSU ITS, DLSU STRATCOM, DLSU IRPA. (n.d.). Guiding Principles of the Philippine Lasallian Family.
Retrieved May 16, 2018, from http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/inside/lasallian-guiding-principles/default.asp

Prepared: Christian Derik Aquino, BCH1-1
through the DLSMHSI Lasallian Mission and Linkages, Lasallian Formation and Social Action

Our Daily Lasallian Reflection and Prayer is DLSMHSI gift to the Lasallian family for the 2019 Celebration of the Year of Vocation and Tercentenary celebration of the death of our founder SJBDLS.

http://www.dlshsi.edu.ph/daily-lasallian-reflection-prayer #300LaSalle