Wednesday – 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel - Luke 4:38-44

A (Luke)Warm Reception

Ruins of Peter’s House, Capernaum

 

Friends, please note!  I will be taking a short break for the next few days beginning Friday 9/4; time to catch my breath, attend to some family and ministry duties and recharge my ‘batteries’.  Facebook and email posts will return on Tuesday Sept 8.  In the meantime, you can still access daily posts on my blog -  https://deaconbillfrere.blogspot.com/

In case you hadn’t noticed, this week our daily Gospel readings have shifted from Matthew to Luke.  Tradition tells us that Luke was a Gentile and a doctor.  So it’s not unusual then that, when Jesus performs a healing miracle, Luke provides a bit more detail to the illness.  And so Peter’s mother-in-law is not just “sick”; she is sick with a severe fever.  In the days ahead when we go deeper into Luke, you will also see an emphasis on Jesus as the Savior of all people, not just Jews.  In fact, He shows a particular affection for the second-class citizens: the poor, the sick, the non-Jews, women and the oppressed.

But today, consider what’s been happening ever since the week began.  On Monday we saw Jesus being run out of Nazareth, His home town!  In fact, the people tried to throw Him off a cliff.  And then look at these past 2 days.  Jesus comes to Capernaum, preaches in their synagogue and then today heals Peter’s mother-in-law.  And their reaction?  They are amazed at His words and His authority; anyone who was sick was brought to Him and cured, and they spread the word about this amazing preacher.

What a warm reception!  What a different reception from what happened in Nazareth!  In fact, Jesus comes to make Capernaum basically His home for the next few years. 

Yesterday we talked about whether or how we know Jesus.  Today the focus is on how do we react to that ‘knowledge’?  If we really do believe Jesus is the Son of the Most High, how do we respond?  Do we try to push Him out of our life, get rid of Him like the Nazareans?  Or do we provide a warm welcome, open our arms and our hearts to His words and actions?  What kind of reception do we give to Jesus?  Do we offer such an open response that Jesus doesn’t just visit us but He takes up residence in our hearts? 

Great Spirit, allow me today to feel Your presence.  Help me to remember and appreciate that You are always here beside me.  Give me the openness to welcome You into my life.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Feast of the Presentation Gospel – Luke 2:22-40 We Are Family Church of St. Joseph, Nazareth 5 extremely short stories to start the day! Once all the people in a village decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer, all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella. That is faith. When you throw babies in the air, they laugh because they know you will catch them. That is trust. Every night we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning, but we still set the alarm to wake up. That is hope. We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future. That is confidence. We see the world suffering, but still, we get married and have children. That is love. Faith, hope, love, confidence and trust!   Sounds like a perfect list of values/virtues for a happy family! Today’s Gospel tells us of another family – the Holy Family going up to Jerusalem with the baby Jesus to present Him to the Lord in ...
Read more
Image
Sunday – Feast of Corpus Christi Gospel – Luke 9:11b-17 Loaves and Fishes Church at Tabgha Throughout those 2 years of isolation from Covid,   I really missed my St. Kateri community.   I missed my native brothers and sisters.   I miss crowding ourselves into the chapel on a Sunday morning for Mass.   And I miss our community potluck meal afterwards. I think that I missed that simple meal the most; it speaks volumes to me about the community and about the values that should define our lives.   I said a ‘simple’ meal but actually it’s more of a constant miracle.   Jody, our director, and/or Ginger provide the main course.   And that’s it!   All the rest – sides, salads, pasta, dessert, bread and drinks   - all of that is left to the community.   Bring something to share!   We never know how many people will come!   We never know what they will bring!   Ginger always calls it a “loaves and fishes” event! ...
Read more
Image
  Tuesday – St. Aloysius Gonzaga Gospel – Matthew 7:6, 12-14 Narrow Gate Old City, Jerusalem We celebrate today the Feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga.   He was raised in a wealthy and powerful noble family in northern Italy in the 16 th century.   As a youth, he served as a page for King Philip and afterwards trained to be a soldier.   However that career path was cut short by kidney disease.   After he recovered, he gave up all his wealth and title and entered the Jesuit order at the age of 19.   When the plague broke out in Rome, he volunteered to care for the sick.   Unfortunately he fell victim to the disease and died a scant 4 months later at the age of 22. He could have easily kept his title and wealth; he could have enjoyed a comfortable easy life.   But instead he chose a different path, a path that was not only uncomfortable but extremely difficult and   challenging. In terms of today’s Gospel, Aloysius chose the ‘narr...
Read more