Reflection for Sunday February 4, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:29-39

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:

Are you afraid of getting sick? Of course, we all fear sickness, and as much as possible, we don’t want to fall ill. Some of us might even wish for instant death to avoid getting sick and being enslaved by illness. However, one of the undeniable truths about life is the inevitability of sickness and death. Somehow, it will catch up with us, no matter how hard we try to evade it."

What is your shield against sickness? Your money and health insurance? It will not be enough and it may run out before you get healed. So what is the ultimate cure for sickness? It’s your faith in Jesus! Your faith in Jesus can liberate you from various forms of sickness—be it physical, emotional, or spiritual. 

Faith is a mystery that we should all embrace and faith is also a gift that we should ask Jesus to give us so that we would be able to feel His healing presence in our lives.

After preaching in the synagogue Jesus went to the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. He went there because Simon’s mother in-law was sick with fever. Jesus simply approached her grasped her hand and helped her get up and with those simple gestures from the Lord she regained back her health. It was not only Simon’s mother in-law who got healed; many more were brought to Jesus and all of them experienced healing.  

The important question here is this; did they all have faith in Jesus that’s why they were all healed? Yes of course, otherwise they would have not been healed.

Do you seek the gift of faith from Jesus? Do you pray to Him for healing in all aspects of your life?– Marino J. Dasmarinas