Lk 4:38-44
Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the house of Simon. His mother-in-law was suffering from high fever, and they asked him to do something for her. Bending over her, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately, she got up and waited on them.
At sunset, people suffering from many kinds of sickness were brought to Jesus. Laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Demons were driven out, howling as they departed from their victims, “You are the Son of God!” He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, for they knew he was the Messiah.
Jesus left at daybreak and looked for a solitary place. People went out in search of him, and finding him, they tried to dissuade him from leaving. But he said, “I have to go to other towns, to announce the good news of the kingdom of God. That is what I was sent to do.” And Jesus continued to preach in the synagogues of Galilee.
REFLECTION
When in 379 St. Jerome was ordained a priest at the urging of Bishop Paulinus of Antioch, he specified as a condition of his ordination that he would not be submitted to any pastoral obligation (v.g. service in a parish). In fact, it seems that he never celebrated Mass. Was he useless to the Church? No, for he produced an immense amount of commentaries on the Bible and especially a Latin translation of the Bible which was the official translation used by the Church for 15 centuries. He certainly served the Church well—but in his own way.
In today’s first reading Paul alludes to the different ways in which he and the great preacher and teacher Apollos worked for the Church: “I planted, Apollos watered.”
We all have different talents and we should serve the cause of Christ according to our specific talent. Some Christians serve the sick in hospitals, some serve in the prison ministry, some serve in soup kitchens for the poor, some write books. Let us favor this rich variety of ministries instead of wanting everyone to fit in the same mold. God loves variety!
CLARETIAN COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION, INC.
8 Mayumi Street, U.P. Village, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (02) 921-3984 • 922-00-11 • 921-28-59 Fax: (02) 921-6205, 927-7429
Bookstore: (02) 924-6835
Email: ccfi@claretianpublications.com / cci@claret.org
Website: www.claretianph.com
