Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

February 4, 2018

Readings:

First Reading – Job 7:1-4, 6-7

Psalm 147

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

Gospel reading according to Mark (1: 29-39)

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Homily: 

After the service in the synagogue (in Capernaum) where still many people there were amazed of the words and works (actions) of Jesus with authority and power they witnessed, and still the discussing what had happened to that man possessed by unclean spirit, while Jesus leaved the synagogue with his disciples. And because of the nearness of the house of Peter and Andrew (Peter’s brother), around 100 yards away from the synagogue, Jesus was invited to go to the house of Peter and Andrew for a rest and eat since the Sabbath was not yet over.  “On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John” (Mark 1:29).  While he was in the house of Simon and Andrew, something happened.  The mother-in-law of Simon (meaning Simon Peter was married) had high fever. “Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever” (Mark 1: 30).  She was lying on her bed and she cannot move for days if not months.  She cannot even help her daughter work in the household chores.  She may even say to her, “When shall I arise from this bed of sickness.”  Like Job, (in the first reading), as he was saying to himself: “So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been allotted to me.  If in bed I say, ‘When shall I arise? Then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.  My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.  Remember that my life is like the wind, I shall not see happiness again’.” (Job 7: 3-4, 6-7).    As a good son-in-law, Simon Peter presented the situation of his mother-in-law to Jesus, that she was sick – “inaapoy ng lagnat,” she’s very hot with fever.  Maybe the doctor/priest of the town already visited her but no amount of medicine can cure her fever.  She was not left by her fever.  “They immediately told him about her” (Mark 1: 30). So, as sensitive in needs of giving healing to others as like Jesus, “he approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up” (Mark 1: 31). 

There are three actions Jesus did to her; first, he approached her.  Any Jew, except priests in the Temple, could not come closer to any sick person, even he/she was a member of the family, a friend or an acquaintance because they were taught and believed that a sick person was punished by God due to his/her sins.  They thought that if they approach a sick person, they will be contaminated also by the sins of that person who was sick.  Second, he grasped her hand.  The more it was unlawful to touch any part of the body of the sick person.  They thought that they may become dirty and they needed to wash (take a bath) their whole body to take away the dirt they contacted from the sick person. And, third, he helped her up.  The same with the second approach and/or mentality of the Jewish people.  They have to wash their bodies to remove the sins they contacted from the sick person.  But, in all of this, Jesus who came from God has authority and power to forgive sins; he can approach us, grasp our hands, and help us up, so that he can cure our sicknesses and illnesses, even the bad spirits that we contacted in doing bad and evil things.  Jesus was not afraid to violate the laws of cleanliness (ablution) that tied the sick persons instead of releasing them from their maladies.  “Then the fever left her and she waited on them” (Mark 1: 31).  The result of that healing (full recovery of strength) was the willingness of the mother-in-law of Simon Peter, so with us, to serve the Lord and other disciples, for his greatness.

Because of what had happened in the synagogue, and because Capernaum is not a big town, the news about the healing power of Jesus spread large and wide.  Almost all the families with sick parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends and even those possessed by unclean spirits were brought to the house of Peter and Andrew where Jesus was staying. When the Sabbath was over, meaning end of rest day and it was almost night, “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” (Mark 1: 32-33), of the house of Peter and Andrew.  It is impossible to anyone who heard the news of healing (miracle) performed by Jesus to that man possessed by evil spirits in the synagogue, who almost all townsfolk attended the Sabbath rites, will not take the opportunity to bring their sick relatives to Jesus to heal them also.  So all people in the town who had sick and possessed relatives by the unclean spirits (demons, evils) who were seeking healing and deliverance were at the door waiting for Jesus to heal them and restore their health – physically, mentally and spiritually.  Jesus remained in the house and attended to the needs of many sick and possessed men and women, young and old.  “He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him” (Mark 1:34). 

The following day, after Sabbath, “rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed” (Mark 1: 35).  It was the habit and practice of Jesus to go to secluded places to pray to God his loving Father, to ask strength, courage, intelligence and wisdom with humility and simplicity and obedience to the will of his Father, our God.  He usually prayed to God, his Father that he might carry the will who sent him, especially in serving the flock (people) entrusted to him by God.  “Simon and those who were with him pursued him and in finding him said, ‘Everyone is looking for you’.” (Mark 1:36-37).  Even the disciples were looking for him not only those people who have sick relatives, for they found in Jesus the way, the truth, and the life.  That is why they were following him, while others were seeking him.  But Jesus had other mission from God his Father to fulfill.  “He told them, ‘Let us go on to the nearby village that I may preach there also.  For this purpose have I come’.” (Mark 1: 38).  Jesus is not contained only in one place – for example, Nazareth or Capernaum, but to as many towns, villages and cities as well, even the whole known lands and continents and/or countries.  He has to go to as many places he can visit to bring the new good to all peoples of the world.  Like Paul (in the second reading) when he said: “When I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. . .  Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win as many as possible” (1 Cor. 9: 18-19).  He has to go where the wind blows, where the sun and moon rise and set, in any places where there are people to listen to his preaching of the Reign-Kingdom of God.  “So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee” (Mark 1: 39), even up to our lives, our homes, our families, our community, he always visited us, now and forever.  Amen.   “Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted” (Ps. 147).