Gospel Reading: Mk 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-inlaw 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.
HE LEFT AND WENT OFF TO A DESERTED PLACE
The Gospel gives us three scenes. In the first (vv 29-34), Jesus is busy with pastoral care: healing many who are sick with various diseases and casting out many demons. The second scene (v 35) presents a praying Jesus, who gets up early in the morning and prays in a deserted place. In the third (vv 36-39), Simon and his companions search for Jesus, and when they find him, they go on with their mission throughout the whole of Galilee. Jesus continues to proclaim the good news of salvation and cast out demons. In the midst of his missionary activities, Jesus finds a quiet place and communes with the heavenly Father. In this world of ours characterized by frenzy activities, we are invited to find a place where we can spend quality time with the Lord, the source of all our strength.
“Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build” (Ps 127:1).
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.