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| “The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law” by James Tissot, 1883-94 |
Reading 1: Hebrews
2:14-18
Since the children share in
blood and Flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in
them,
that through death he might
destroy the one
who has the power of death,
that is, the Devil,
and free those who through
fear of death
had been subject to slavery
all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of
Abraham;
therefore, he had to become
like his brothers and sisters in every way,
that he might be a merciful
and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the
people.
Because he himself was tested
through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who
are being tested.
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Commentary on Heb
2:14-18
The Letter to the Hebrews
presents an apology on the Lord’s humanity. The author is eloquent in logic as
he says; “Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham”
meaning he came as man not as spirit in support of sons of Abraham. By assuming
humanity, the Lord became the perfect vessel in which the sins of all mankind
were assumed and contained. As additional proofs of Jesus’ humanity, the Lord’s
passion is referenced as a source of strength for those who are likewise tested
on account of their faith. He came as the sacrificial offering that through his
suffering and death, those he loves may not have to endure the fate reserved
for those who live in darkness.
The language used at the
beginning of the passage “blood and flesh” makes reference to human nature- its weakness and
frailty in contrast with the “spirit” and God (see Psalm
78:39, Isaiah
31:3, 2
Chronicles 32:8). From the “Fall” mankind has been under the
bane of death. Now in the Christian
paradox Christ’s death defeats death and sin (also Romans
8:3).
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD,
invoke his name;
make known among the nations
his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous
deeds.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek
the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his
strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham,
his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen
ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his
judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He remembers forever his
covenant
which he made binding for a
thousand generations
Which he entered into with
Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps
105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
The song of praise exhorts us
to praise the Lord constantly and to remember his covenant with Abraham and
Isaac. We praise him also for the new covenant in Jesus, for which the Son of
God became the sealing sacrifice. It emphasizes the saving power of the name of
the Lord. In using the name of God, the
speaker implicitly gives glory to God for the blessings that follow.
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Gospel: Mark
1:29-39
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 .
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Commentary on Mk
1:29-39
Jesus comes to the house of
Simon (Peter) and Andrew from Capernaum
It is noteworthy that Mark
tells us that as Jesus cast out demons, but “not
permitting them to speak because they knew him.” Demons
presumably had supernatural powers and were therefore able to recognize the
nature of Jesus. Because of this he
silenced them. He did so, it is
proposed, because he needed to show the people (and his disciples) that he was
not the “Royal Messiah”, but something unexpected.[4]
The Gospel tells us that the
Lord then went off to a deserted place to pray and it was only when Simon and
his companions came and found him that he continued his mission of proclaiming
the Good News of the Kingdom
of God
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Reflection:
“Everyone is looking for you.” That is what Simon said when the disciples
came and found Jesus in prayer. The
truth of the matter is this that, whether they know it or now, everyone is still
looking for him.
Who
is not looking for the peace that Christ brings? He comes to still the troubled mind, he
brings that warmth of heart that is only achieved when we are convinced that we
are one with all things and that there is nothing we should fear.
He
comes offering everlasting life. Who is
not looking for that salvation for all eternity? Even if they say; “I don’t believe in God and
death is just the end of my journey.” They still hope for life in the world to
come. They may have difficulty believing
it, but they none the less fear they may be wrong.
Who
is not looking for belonging and the love that comes with being part of a
family who loves them? Very few
biological families live up to the standard of mutual love and respect that the
Lord’s adopted sons and daughters find in His family.
Who
does not secretly wish that they had a loving parent who, in all of the most
difficult times of their life would be with them to support them? That is a part of the peace of Christ. Belief in Him brings us the constant
assurance that our Father in heaven is with us and His Son, Jesus, left us the
Holy Spirit that dwells within us. It
marks us as his children forever.
The
people we meet today will all fall into this class of, “looking for Him”. They may have found some piece of the truth
in their lives and they may have rejected that path not knowing where it could
lead them. It is, after all, a difficult
path and to find Him we must put aside our own greed and hedonistic
impulses. That is something almost
impossible for some people.
It
strikes us that most people who seek the Lord but don’t know it or can’t seem
to bring themselves to travel that path fall in to one or more reasons; they
don’t know what finding the Lord can do for them; they have never been shown
the path and do not know how to get on it, they are unable to put aside the
products and values of the world; they may be prevented from getting on the
path by their current life circumstances.
These
reasons may manifest themselves in voiced rejection; “That’s stupid.” Or “I
don’t believe that.” Or “That is for fools and simpletons.” (The famous atheist
Dawkins recently put signs on buses in London
Pax
[1]
ALTRE
[2]
The picture today is “The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law” by James Tissot,
1883-94
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This
re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4]
The Navarre Bible, “Gospels
and Acts”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton ,
NJ
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