In today’s gospel, Jesus was still beginning his ministry of healing and exorcism in his home district of Galilee. As his fame spread, large crowds assembled and pressed upon him, seeking his help. The crowds became so large that there was danger of a catastrophe. Jesus “told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him” (Mark 3:9). So greatly did the Galilean crowds want to be with him and near him. This is not an isolated phenomenon. Last April, in the very same district of Galilee, a large crowd crushed 45 Jewish pilgrims to death at the tomb of an ancient rabbi. Last November, in Houston, Texas, a very different crowd (rap enthusiasts) crushed ten people to death.
We might admire ourselves for having avoided such catastrophes, but let’s temper our self-admiration by admitting that we rarely, if ever, feel the need to press in through a crowd. At the airport, maybe, but, otherwise, most of us feel no need to press in. So content are we with our current supplies. Take them away, though, and who knows what will happen? If you ever really had a life-or-death need, how hard would you press through the crowd? Or do you know that you need something really important, but simply lack the will? Are you just too bored? No enthusiasm?
It is right to avoid, as Christ did, the catastrophes caused byexcessively large and enthusiastic crowds. It is also right to admit, every day, how greatly we need the love of God, and to press after it with true enthusiasm