22nd Week in the Ordinary Time
1st Reading: 1Cor 3:1-9
Brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were unable to take it. Indeed, you are still not able, even now, for you are still of the flesh. While there is jealousy and rivalry among you, are you not of the flesh, and walking according to the manner of man? Whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely men? What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Gospel: Lk 4:38-44
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.
SENT TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS: The request of Simon Peter to heal his mother-in-law of demonstrates his faith in Jesus. Jesus rebukes the fever as he had rebuked the unclean demon illustrating that it was also an act of exorcism. Jesus has come to free the people from whatever binds them and keeps them in bondage. As soon as she was healed, she began to serve them. In the evening, Jesus heals various sorts of illnesses by laying hands on them, and drives out demons from many people in Capernaum. Jesus’ reception at Capernaum is the opposite of that at Nazareth. The people were impressed very much and so they try to keep him in their midst. Jesus escapes from these friends just as he had from his enemies. He is not tied down to one group or one place. Let us also welcome him in our lives.
Prayer: Lord I trust in you. May you save me from all evils that may surround me.
****
THE MISSION OF JESUS HAS NO BOUNDARY: After leaving the Synagogues, Jesus encountered Simon Peter’s mother-in-law and cured her. Having been cured, she joined them for service. Jesus also cures many who were sick and possessed. At that period of time, the sick were considered impure and they were marginalized. However, Jesus could go to them, touch and heal them, driving evil spirits from the possessed. He did not allow the evil spirits to speak because they knew that He was Christ and that is why they said, “You are the Son of God”. As Christians, we are called to reach out to such as these. After this, because of what Jesus did, they wanted to keep him, but he had to go to other places because his mission was for all.
****
HEALING FOR SERVICE OF THE LORD: Jesus Christ our Lord healed Simon’s mother-in-law by rebuking the fever which she had. She immediately began to wait on him. We have been evangelized to evangelize others through our lives, we have been healed in order to heal others through our presence, word of comfort, love and care. We have been comforted; therefore, we are called to comfort and to extend our solidarity with those who have no one to comfort and to listen to them. It is our gratitude to God for his blessings when we extend our generous helping hand to anyone those in need. Thus, the Lord will multiply his graces within us for the good of our brothers and sisters.
DAILY GOSPEL 