Fr. Mike’s Homily for Wednesday of 1st Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II
Theme: The day of the Lord
By: Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches
Homily for Wednesday January 12 2022
Mk 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law 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.
Simon and Andrew were brothers. They, and their families live together in the same house with their father, Jonah. That is the culture among the Jews and other Mediterranean people. When the daughter gets married, she lives in the house of her husband’s father.
In the Gospel, we are told that Simon’s mother-in-law was in the house of Simon and Andrew. This is something unusual. She should be living in her husband’s house. If her husband had died, she should be living in the house of one of her sons. Or if they had also died, she should go back to the house of her father. So, why was she in the house of Simon? There is only one answer: she had no living family member to take care of her. Her condition was worse than the fever she was suffering with. She was a widow who needs help and care.
Once healed of fever, she immediately gets up to serve them. She knows too well that healing is not only to bring back her health but to enable her to become once again active in serving the community.
The Gospel today describes the typical day of the Lord. He is always very busy, as He has to attend to the needs of so many people coming to Him. It says that practically, “the whole town was gathered at the door.” From where does Jesus get His power and strength for such an exceptionally hectic day? The answer is prayer: “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.”
But His time of solitude and prayer is interrupted. The disciples come in search of Him, for everyone is looking for Him.
Surprisingly, He has no intention of staying for another day in Capernaum despite the great demand from the people. He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”
Jesus is never parochial in outlook. He always has in mind the welfare all people. He is the Savior, not only of the Jewish people, but of the whole humanity. Hence, in His public ministry, He is always on the move, from one town to another, with a sense of urgency. He is acutely aware of the limited time He has and the great work to be done. And finally, before He ascended to the Father, He entrusted to His disciples the great responsibility of continuing His mission until His return: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15).
In baptism we have become God’s children and disciples of Christ. In short, we share in the same mission entrusted to His first disciples. We, too, are missionaries for God’s Kingdom. For, after all, the gift of faith is meant to be shared. And the more it is shared, the stronger it becomes. May this awareness of our missionary vocation inflame our hearts with zeal to spread the Good News for the salvation of all souls.
Fr. Mike Lagrimas
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Diocese of Novaliches