Monday of Week 5 – Genesis 1:1-19; Mark 6:53-56

In the Book of Genesis, God declares, “Let there be,” and it comes into being. Such is the power of God’s word; He creates from nothing – the heavens, the earth, light, water, and land. And what of the Gospel? It tells us, “People . . . began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was.” This reflects the profound helplessness of humanity. Alone, before the laws of nature, an individual can achieve very little. Only God possesses the ability to temporarily suspend these laws. Yet, the human person requires the support of another. We need those who will pursue Jesus and bring the sick to the doorstep where the Healer awaits. It is only through those who reach out and touch Him that healing occurs, and attempting this alone can be daunting.

For God, to accomplish great works, only His word or a touch of His cloak is necessary. In contrast, for humanity to achieve anything, hard work is essential. This distinction is crucial to remember when we mistakenly believe it is sufficient merely to command someone with a simple “do this,” expecting immediate results. The truth is evident: we are not God, and our desires lack the power of creation. When the allure of authority clouds our judgement, let us invoke the Holy Spirit for the gift of wisdom. We do not need to know everything, but let us recognise that in our human world, words alone are insufficient to bring about change; genuine human effort is required, often laborious.

Grant us the wisdom to respond humbly when faced with the phrase “you cannot,” acknowledging that not all desires can be fulfilled. Recognising our limitations is an important part of our journey, even when we know there are moments when we genuinely cannot achieve what we wish.