Gospel Thought for Today

1^st September - Wednesday of the Twenty-Second Week of Ordinary Time

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.

Reflection

Today we are reminded that when Jesus said, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28), it really was his purpose to put himself at the disposal of all who were in need and suffering in any way. Yet when invited to stay among the people who were so kind to him, Jesus reminded them that his main purpose was preaching the love of his Father to as many as possible and so He had to continue to meet others.

Since the Institution of the Eucharist, it means that we can in fact always have Jesus as a travelling companion in our journey through life. It is wonderful to realise that the Word of God is at our disposal if only we call on him in faith. “I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). ********************