My dear parishioners,
God is Good!!! All the time!!! And all the time!!! God is Good!!!
In the first reading, after losing nearly all that is dear to him, Job struggles to understand God’s purpose in his life. Readers already know from the opening chapter that God cares deeply for Job and wants the world to see what a model servant he remains even in the face of the greatest hardships. But from his own limited viewpoint, Job imagines God must have turned against him without cause.
Today’s Gospel emphasizes the healing ministry of Jesus. This makes Jesus very popular among the people. It seems as if the more he heals, the more people come to be healed. However, Jesus is not altogether comfortable with his rising popularity as a miracle worker. He seeks time away to pray, but even his disciples will not leave him in peace.
Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law. Jesus is at Simon and Andrew’s house when he is told that Simon’s mother-inlaw is suffering from a fever. Jesus approached the woman, grasped her hand, and raised her up. The lectionary translation, “helped her up,” does not capture the nuance of this gesture. To be raised up is resurrection language. Jesus raised up Simon’s mother-in-law to new life. She in turn waits on them, or a better translation is, “she ministers to them.” An added feature of this event is that Jesus not only healed Simon’s mother-in-law, he raised her up to discipleship.
He did not permit them to speak. The Gospel indicates that Jesus attracted an overwhelming crowd seeking to be healed of various diseases and demonic possession. An interesting detail in these exorcisms is that Jesus did not permit the demons to speak because they knew him. However, they only knew him as a miracle worker. The real identity of Jesus will not be revealed until he suffers, dies, and is raised up as savior of the world. To identify Jesus as simply a popular, successful exorcist is to misunderstand him.
Time to move on. Jesus’ popularity grows with each day. He can scarcely get away even to pray. Simon sees this as a good thing. People are seeking out Jesus in large numbers. Jesus should capitalize on this. Everyone must have been shocked when he declares that it is time to move on. He is giving up a lucrative opportunity, so he can go to other villages and preach and heal there. Jesus is not a career exorcist. He is not attempting to make a name for himself. He is an itinerant preacher proclaiming that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news. There is more to the mission of Jesus than doing miracles. The disciples will never fully grasp this. Nor will they ever fully understand who he is.
Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Aloysius