Friday 7 January 2022
After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them. As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. Demons also came out of many, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.
Reflection
As we are, hopefully, emerging from the pandemic we are used to hearing reports of people with a high fever. We read of people spending weeks seriously ill in hospital and then taking months to fully recover. What a contrast to this report of Jesus healing Simon’s mother-in-law. As soon as Jesus spoke the fever left her and she was immediately fit and well able to serve food to Jesus and the disciples.
This did not go unnoticed and later it seems that crowds came, and Jesus healed them all. He showed His power over demons by not allowing them to speak.
Today we rely upon the NHS and the skills of doctors, nurses and others to heal us but we still need the touch of Jesus in our lives. While we can have medical experts deal with our physical and mental ailments, we need Jesus to touch us for inner healing and strength. We may be feeling overwhelmed with all the suffering that we see around us, and we need the touch of Jesus to calm us and lead us to do what we should. We may be feeling helpless in light of some situation, but we must remember that Jesus still cares about us and that the Holy Spirit is with us today. If we feel alone and helpless, we need to remember accounts of the miracles and healings that Jesus performed and ask for changes in our lives to make us feel secure and complete. What are the demons that mess with your life? No matter what they are, Jesus can, and will, deal with them.
Prayer
Loving God thank you that Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law and restored her strength so she could serve the disciples.
I ask that you take away all my worries and weaknesses and restore me so I can live my life fully for you.
Just as the disciples followed Jesus, help me to live a life of discipleship leaning on your strength and relying on your Holy Spirit to guide me.
Amen