In today’s Gospel, we have the famous scene where Jesus heals Simon Peter‘s mother-in-law. One way to understand Scripture is to approach it from point of view of action. So if we were in class as Scripture scholars and we were trying to understand today’s Gospel we would ask, “who did what?”
First of all we would say that Simon and the Apostles asked Jesus for healing. That’s important. We need to follow that example. When we need healing of any kind we can go to God with our request. We bring all that we are before him and ask for his assistance. We realize that we are not alone. We realize that many times we cannot do it by ourselves and we actually need to rely upon God. This keeps things in balance for us. We are created to be in relationship with God. In fact, we do need God in order to have healthy grace-filled living
The next thing we see in terms of action is that Jesus does heal . Jesus heals Simon Peter‘s mother-in-law. This reminds us that God does work in our lives. It may not happen in the way that we expect or even understand. However God is present and active in our lives.
Then we see the mother-in-law wait on her guests. This was common hospitality in the time of Jesus but in our day as well. If someone came to your house you certainly would offer them something to eat and drink and try to make them comfortable. This shows generosity. More importantly, it shows a connection of relationship. The healed person is in relationship with others. This means not just physical healing but spiritual healing. If we are spiritually well, then we are connected to others and we seek those relationships.
After Jesus heals Simon Peter‘s mother-in-law, he heals many others. When He finishes and takes His rest for the night, He rises early and prays. This is an important example for us to follow. Jesus centers His daily activity by first taking time for prayer. We do this on Sunday. Hopefully we do this every day of the week. Prayer helps us reach out to God. Prayer helps us connect to God. It helps us stay spiritually healthy. It keeps us from being isolated and turned only inward towards ourselves.
So many times we may feel like Job in our first reading. At night we are caught up in our own thoughts and we may feel alone and restless. It is precisely in these moments when we need to reach out to God. In our psalm today we hear that God heals the brokenhearted.
Let us be more than scripture scholars as we receive today’s Holy Word. Let us see that we can always come to our God and ask Him to help us and heal us. Let us see His activity in our lives and be confident of His presence. Let us follow the example of Jesus and begin each day centering ourselves and our activities in prayer. Together let us reach out to our God – Who, in turn, reaches out to us. The God Who heals us. The God Who loves us.
First Reading
Jb 7:1-4, 6-7
I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.
A reading from the Book of Job
Job spoke, saying:
Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery?
Are not his days those of hirelings?
He is a slave who longs for the shade,
a hireling who waits for his wages.
So I have been assigned months of misery,
and troubled nights have been allotted to me.
If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?”
then the night drags on;
I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;
they come to an end without hope.
Remember that my life is like the wind;
I shall not see happiness again.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. :
R. (cf. 3a) Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Second Reading
1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23
Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel.
A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
Brothers and sisters:
If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,
for an obligation has been imposed on me,
and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,
but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach,
I offer the gospel free of charge
so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.
Gospel Acclamation
Mt 8:17
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mk 1:29-39
Jesus cured many who were sick with various diseases.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues,
preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:
The Gospel of the Lord.
Catholic Bible Study / Scripture Reflections 