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| “The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law” by James Tissot, 1883-94 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Hebrews 2:14-18
Commentary on Heb 2:14-18
The Letter to the Hebrews presents an apologia 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 the 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 proof 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).
CCC: Heb 2:14-15 635; Heb 2:14 407, 636; Heb 2:15 1520, 2602; Heb 2:17-18 609
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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.
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.
CCC: Ps 105:3 30
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Gospel: Mark 1:29-39
Commentary on Mk 1:29-39
Jesus comes to the house of Simon (Peter) and Andrew from Capernaum. He continues to heal the sick and to cast out demons. This episode is somewhat different in that it occurs in a private setting, attended by the three privileged disciples. Scholars speculate that this, like other such accounts (Mark 4:10, 34; 5:37-40; 6:31-32), is an eyewitness report of the Lord’s revelation in the privacy of a home setting.
It is noteworthy that Mark tells us that as Jesus cast out demons, he was “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.
CCC: Mk 1:35 2602
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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 that, whether they know it or not, 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 at peace with all things, and that there is nothing we should fear.
He comes offering everlasting life. Who is not looking for salvation for all eternity? Even if some people 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 nonetheless fear that 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 Lord 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 the Lord 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, give one or more reasons: they don’t know what finding the Lord can do for them; they have never been shown the path or do not know how to get on it; they are unable to put aside the products and values of the world; or they may be prevented from getting on the path by their current life circumstances (e.g. buried in a culture that shuts out the light).
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, one of which read: “There is no God, so don’t worry.”) But if we can get past that initial rejection, perhaps we can show them that “everyone is looking for him.”
Pax
[1] The picture today is “The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law” by James Tissot, 1883-94.
[4] The Navarre Bible, “Gospels and Acts”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton , NJ
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