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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Reflection:
There is a story of
a family who had a bedridden mother. Being in such situation her husband and
children confined her to a room within their house. The mother was wondering,
why they isolated her when she doesn’t have a contagious sickness? Deep in her
heart she was wishing for a daily small talk with her family or even a quick
peek from her husband and children. But they rarely did she eventually died not
from her sickness but from her loneliness.
When Jesus was told
that Simon’s mother-in-law is sick with a fever, He immediately approached her
and grasp her hand. As if to say that I’m here for you and I’m concerned with
your wellbeing. Then she was healed by Jesus before they left her.
What is Jesus
telling us this Sunday? Jesus is telling us that we have to visit the sick. We
have to talk to them and we have to let them know that we are here for them.
Many of us don’t visit the sick because we are so busy with our daily
undertakings. Or we don’t visit the sick because we have no money to help them.
But there’s more to life
than our daily undertakings and there’s certainly more to life than having
money. Life is all about touching lives! It’s making a person feel special more
so if she/he is sick. Just imagine if a sick person would see you, it certainly
would lighten her face and boost her sagging morale.
Nevermind if you
cannot give financial help since your mere presence is more than enough to help
her get well. Your mere presence is like saying, I’m here for you, you can
count on me and I love you more than words can say.
We must never
underestimate the power of a visit or even a quick visit to a sick relative or
friend. It could do wonders for their wellness of course we are not Jesus thus
we would not be able to cure them physically, but who knows? Nonetheless, it
still can do wonders for them on the level of their emotions and morale.
Jesus is showing us
the way on what to do when somebody is sick we therefore have to follow the way
of Jesus. - Marino J. Dasmarinas
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