Sacred Scripture
After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (Luke 4:38-44)
Reflection
Today’s Gospel is one of the most tender passages in scripture. It always evokes a swallow in my throat.
Here was Jesus using His love to heal. He knew that His mission was to save them and us. He saved them through the power of His touch which healed their bodies and their minds. If you close your eyes, you can almost feel his gentleness, care and concern for those who were ill or suffering in any way.” His hands were gentle, loving, and healing.
That is the beautiful thing about Jesus’s healing in today’s gospel. He touched people. He physically touched them. This is such a basic human need. Human beings need to be touched. There is no human being who is excluded from this need. It is so often neglected because people fear the intimate act of touching another person, especially someone they do not know very well.
Too often, in the United States of today, gentleness is often replaced by stridency. Voices are raised in anger. Divisions abound. Families are weakened because of political beliefs. Emotional barriers are raised separating friend from friend.
Now more than ever, we must hold on the tenets of our Christian faith. We were created by God and each one of us was given special talents so that we can serve His creation in that special way. These talents that we were given are meant to serve all people regardless of their faith, creed, political belief, race, tribe, social status or gender.
Each of us has been called to be His light to others. Many people have come to know that God exists, because of simple, personal acts of love, especially the human touch. A smile, a hug, a handshake, some unexpected help, or a visit when they are sick can really make a difference in their lives. Just someone that cares that they are sick, like Simon’s mother in law in today’s gospel, can mean all the difference in a person’s day and it can affect their life for a long time afterwards. This applies to something pretty minor, like a cold or the flu, all the way to cancer, and those who live with chronic pain.
Sometimes you have to look through the negativity, the bitterness, a person’s lifestyle, or major character flaws, and just love the person. To do this, is to be like Christ. Jesus knew the whole person and He continued to love each even to those that crucified Him.
Prayer of The Day
Lord Jesus Christ, you have all power to heal and to deliver. Set me free to serve you joyfully and to love and serve others generously. May nothing hinder me from giving myself wholly to you and to your service.
Daily Note
Disease literally means “not at ease.” Disease is disharmony, disturbances, dysfunction, derangement, delusions or disunity of the parts of the whole.
Demons in Judaism were supernatural beings with the power to cause harm to humans. We don’t know what demons are today; but we do that that they are and how some of they work. Demons always try to divide what God has put together. They divide the health of the body from the body. They divide the health of the spirit from the spirit. They divide love and incubate hate and bitterness.
Healing means restoration of the unity of the body, the mind, and the spirit. You and I have the power to heal through the gift of our love which supersedes everything.
