Reflection for September 4 Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 4:38-44

Gospel: Luke 4:38-44

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. 

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.  

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. 

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Reflection: 

Have you asked Jesus to heal somebody close to you? Have you brought to Jesus a relative or a friend? Your faith and relationship with Jesus becomes more meaningful when you are able to bring/introduce someone to Him. Because this means that your faith has already matured and is bearing fruit already.  

In today's gospel, Simon humbly asked Jesus to heal his mother-in-law, who was sick with a fever. Immediately, Jesus went to her and healed her. What if Simon had not asked Jesus to heal his mother-in-law? Of course, she would not have been healed, but she was, thanks to Simon’s prayerful and humble intercession. 

Simon’s act of asking Jesus to heal his mother-in-law is a very good reminder for us. We too must make sure that we pray to Jesus to heal and enlighten others, especially those who are close to us. Many people are in great need of enlightenment and healing from Jesus. Let us not take for granted the power of our prayerful intercession for others, especially for the sick and for those who have not yet been enlightened about the love of Jesus. 

This is for the reason that our prayerful intercession for them can heal and change them. For example, Saint Monica (the mother of Saint Augustine) she was forced to marry a non-believer but through her unceasing prayer she was able to convert her husband to the catholic faith.  

Saint Monica also unceasingly prayed for 17 long years for the conversion of her son Augustine who was living a life of sin at that time. And through her humble and persevering prayers she was eventually heard by God.   

Have you already prayed for someone's enlightenment and healing? - Marino J. Dasmarinas