Gospel Mark 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was. In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said: "Everybody is looking for you." He answered, "Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came." And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils. | Meditation
Mark is interested in the link between the miraculous activity of the messiah and the awakening of faith. Faith leads people to ask Jesus for healing. Healing leads them to the total commitment of faith. The cure of Peter's mother-in-law suggests more than Christ's extraordinary power over a sick body. In a clipped account, Mark demonstrates his interest in the meaning of the event: the healing of bodies is aimed at wholeness of spirits. This same narrative implies a model for every believer. Made whole by the power of Jesus, we too must devote our full energy to serving the Lord. This model is not easy. Enthusiasm for miraculous cures is not enough. All the crippled and possessed of Capernaum crowd in front of Simon and Andrew's house because they see Jesus only as a wonderworker. Jesus slips away. He takes refuge in solitude and prayer, to search out the real meaning of his mission. He is first of all the sower gone out to spread the Word. His word more than his miracles must move us. |