Reflection for January 15 Wednesday of the First Week 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:

How’s your relationship with your mother-in-law?

Many married couples are not in good terms with their mother-in-laws Why? Because they see their mother in laws as interventionist but not all mother-in-laws are like that. Many mother-in-laws are low profile and quite because they respect the privacy and independence of their married children. But they would always be there for their married children whenever they would need her. 

In our gospel Jesus was brought by Simon to their house to cure his mother-in-law. Why? Because Simon loved his mother-in-law. She must have been quite, low profile and not interventionist.   Simon saw his mother-in-law as a blessing and guiding light to his family otherwise Simon would have not asked Jesus to come by to their house and heal her.

Simon told Jesus about her sickness and entrusted her healing to Him. Jesus immediately went to her grasped her hand and she was immediately cured. That’s how big the love of Simon towards his mother-in-law and that’s how huge the trust of Simon toward Jesus.

Sometimes we trust more on ourselves rather than Jesus. We put more weight on our human effort rather than the divine effort of Jesus. This is perhaps the reason why many of us forget to bring first our sick to Jesus by way of our prayers before bringing them to those who could cure them.

What is it that is bothering you right now? Is it the harshness of life? Is it sickness? Is it unfulfilled dreams? Is it family and personal problems? Please tell Jesus about it, be patient, don’t give up; continue to have hope and trust in Jesus. His help and healing will come to you sooner than you expect it. – Marino J. Dasmarinas