Ready To Stay or To Be Sent

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.

As [Jesus] was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him.  But Jesus 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.” // Mark 5:18-19

There is a fascinating recurring contrast that happens  when Jesus encounters different people in the Gospels. Sometimes Christ invites the person to follow Him more closely and other times Christ immediately sends the person out to proclaim the Good News. Throughout my own life, I have experienced both of these invitations.

There have been times when I have felt drawn to follow Jesus more closely. He equipped me with the gifts of contemplative prayer, studiousness, and stillness. I desired to remain near to Him in steadfast prayer, especially Eucharistic Adoration. I also became a voracious reader, wanting to learn as much as I could through the Scriptures and spiritual classics. I set aside time to receive this formation, staying so close to His Sacred Heart. These were times when I felt like I was not doing enough, but I remained with Him in peace.

There have been other times when I have felt like Jesus has sent me out to share the Good News. He equipped me with gifts of boldness, zeal, and courage. I felt empowered to go out into the world and witness to His loving faithfulness. I was confident that He would lead and guide my every step. These were times when I felt like I was not doing enough, but I remained with Him in peace.

Both of these kinds of experiences help me to enter more deeply into the Gospels. When I contemplate the encounter between Jesus and the Gerasene Demoniac in today’s Gospel (see Mark 5:1-20), I see a miracle story of healing where Christ brings restoration and hope to an isolated man who was in desperate need of freedom. Jesus restored his dignity and humanity. This man wanted to stay with Jesus, but was sent in a different direction. Jesus desired to bring further healing to this outcast by commissioning him to be a messenger of Good News who would return to his community. As you encounter Jesus in the Scriptures today, be docile and attentive to Him—ready to stay with Him and be sent out.