5^th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B); February 4, 2024

Job 7:1-7.  Ps 147.  1 Cor 9:16-23.  Mk 1:29-39

Deacon Jim McFadden

            Dear and Glorious Physician was a classic historical/fiction about St. Luke  by Taylor Caldwell published in 1959.  I remember devouring the book as a teenager living in San Francisco, which was part of my journey into Catholicism.  The title is an apt description of Jesus who is portrayed in today’s Gospel of healing Peter’s mother-in-law and many towns people of Capernaum.  His healing of physical ailments points to his spiritual healing: Jesus is the doctor of the soul.

            Peter’s mother-in-law is lying in bed with a fever.  The way that Jesus approaches the situation is emblematic of his salvific ministry: “he approached, grasped her by the hand, and helped her up” (Mk 1:31a).  There is so much tenderness in this scene, which seems so natural: “the fever left her and she waited on them” (v. 31b).  Jesus’ healing power meets no resistance as the woman is receptive to his Presence; she is healed and resumes her normal life.  Notice that she is not self-preoccupied,  but she immediately is thinking of others, which is a sign of spiritual health.  

            The day was the sabbath.  The people of the village wait until sundown and then, the obligation of rest having ended, they go out and bring to Jesus all the sick and those who are possessed.  And, Jesus heals them, but curiously forbids the demons to reveal that he is the Christ (cf. vv. 32-34).  This episode shows Jesus predilection for people suffering in body and spirit.  Indeed, Jesus is drawn to those who are suffering.  It is also the Father’s predilection, which is why he sent his only begotten Son to become one of us through the Incarnation.    Sin, illness, and death were not part of God’s original plan of Creation, but are now part of our human condition when Adam and Eve intentionally separated themselves from God and were (self) expelled from the Garden: a state of unity and generative Life.  Jesus, the divine physician, shows that  God will get us back to the Garden because the Kingdom of God is at hand, which is perfectly personified in Jesus himself.  Jesus came to overcome Evil at its very root and instances of healing are an anticipation of his ultimate triumph with his Death and Resurrection. 

            Notice that Jesus did not want his disciples to be mere spectators of his mission: he involved them; he sent them; he also gave them the power to heal the sick and cast out demons (cf. Mt 10:1; Mk 6:7).  And this has continued without interruption for the history of the Catholic Church.  Taking care of the sick is not an “optional activity” of the Church, but is an integral part of the Church’s mission.  You see, Jesus was referred from the very beginning of the early Church as the Savior (salvator in Latin).  The term speaks to those who bring healing.  Indeed, the word salve is closely related to salvus, meaning health.  That’s why Jesus is a healer: when the soul is healthy, it is living in right relationship with God.   When the soul is sick, the entire person becomes ill, which is why we are radically dependent upon Jesus, who is the ground of our very being and the narrow gate upon which we enter into the inner life of the Triune God.  That’s why the Church takes care of the sick of every kind as part of her mission, which is the exact same as Jesus.  This mission is to bring God’s tenderness to a suffering humanity.

            The reality that we are experiencing with acute global warming, the ongoing residue of the pandemic, wars in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine and elsewhere, polarization within our own country make the message of today’s Gospel particularly relevant.  The voice of Job which we heard in the first reading speaks to our human condition, so noble in its inherent dignity but so fragile and bruised.  In the face of our existential reality, Job asks “why?” which always arises in the heart. 

            And Jesus responds to this question not with a lofty theological explanation but with a loving presence that bends down, that takes her by the hand and lifts her up.  Jesus bends down to lift us up.  Jesus does not relate to us from the “top-down”, from a distance, but he bends down to where we are. Stretches out his hand to touch us, and manifests his Lordship in closeness, tenderness, and compassion.  That is the Way of Jesus.

            Today’s Gospel also reminds us that the compassion of Jesus is deeply rooted in his intimate relationship with the Father, which he wants us to share.  Why? Before daybreak and after sundown, Jesus withdrew and remain alone to pray to his Father (v. 35).  From there Jesus drew his strength to fulfill his mission, preaching and healing. We are meant to do the same.

            May the Blessed Virgin Mary help us to allow Jesus to heal us—which we are always in need—so that we might in our turn be witnesses to God’s healing tenderness.  Amen. 

Questions for Reflection:

1. What can you do to provide healing in your family and parish community?
2. Do you ask for help and healing when needed?
3. Are you intentional about seeking personal time for prayer?