Gospel Reflection for Sunday February 7th 2021 The 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus heals those who are sick
Today, even with the help of medical staff, chemists and modern medicine, we all still get sick and suffer from pain of one sort another. A small matter of a toothache can cause many a sleepless night! Things were very different and far worse at the time of Jesus. Those who were sick in any way, especially lepers as we will see next Sunday were seen as sinners who were being punished by God. They were ignored and dismissed by their families and communities. They were pushed to the margins and excluded from all religious and social activities. But these are the very people to whom Jesus came with the Good News. He let them know that they were loved passionately, deeply and intimately by God. Jesus not only cured them; he healed and helped them at all levels. He restored and returned them to their families and communities. They were no longer excluded.
The first such healing in the gospel today is about a family. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. Her family told Jesus; he went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. What Jesus did for this woman, he did for all those who were sick; he reached out, touched and healed them. Jesus broke and went beyond all religious, social, and legal restrictions. He touched them were they needed healing the most and made them whole again. Later that evening, perhaps after hearing how Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, the whole town brought to him all who were sick and he healed them. This cannot have been easy for Jesus. Imagine how many simply wanted to touch him and be healed of their pain, suffering and illness. It must have drained him and taken its toll on him. The next part of this gospel is crucial and significant both for Jesus and for us.
We are told that in the morning, long before dawn, he (Jesus) got up, left the house, and went to a lonely place and prayed there. Even Jesus can’t be busy and active all the time. Jesus can’t preach, teach, heal and forgive all by himself. He too needs to rest and be restored. He does this through prayer. He sustains and maintains his relationship with God through regular prayer and quiet time. In another gospel the people were amazed and wondered where Jesus got his authority. Like his power to heal, it comes from God. Jesus does not heal on his own or though his own powers. His preaching, teaching and healing make real the power and presence of God. After his quiet prayer time a search party arrive and say to him, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ Having rested in silent prayer, Jesus continued his ministry of proclaiming God’s Kingdom to those who needed to hear this Good New the most.
While being active and creative is important in our daily lives at home or at work, so too is taking quiet time to pray and to nurture and nourish our friendship with God. If we don’t take time to pray like Jesus, eventually our well will run dry.
May I never be so busy with my own work and concerns that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion. (Thomas Jefferson: 1743 -1826)
This week try to take a few extra minutes of quiet prayer time and simply sit with God. Let God nourish and nurture you. Let God restore and renew you. Let God heal and help you with whatever you are experiencing these days.
– Br Michael Moore OMI
| Gospel | Mark 1:29-39 © |
|---|
He cast out devils and cured many who were suffering from disease
Each day, we email out a short video for the day based on a piece of scripture from the day’s mass.
Our community also streams daily mass and rosary. Sign up to our email list to stay connected.
Each Sunday, we send the Sunday Gospel Reflection direct to your email inbox.
During the season of Lent, the Partners in Mission team send out a thought for the day, reflecting on a line of scripture, an image and an action point for each day during these seasons to help us in our daily lives.
Sign up here:
