Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time B

The speaker begins by emphasizing the importance of knowing the Bible and understanding the teachings of Christ. They guide the listeners through a prayerful reading of a passage from Mark's Gospel, focusing on Jesus' healing and ministry. They highlight the significance of Simon Peter's mother-in-law being healed and then serving others as an example of discipleship. The speaker encourages the listeners to reflect on the passage and have a personal encounter with Jesus through prayer. They emphasize the importance of prayer in maintaining a close relationship with God and being able to serve others effectively. The listeners are invited to continue reflecting on the passage and to let it guide them throughout the week. The speaker concludes by expressing joy in sharing the gospel. Greetings, friends. What a joy to share the Gospels. I wonder if you remember this from the great saint of the Bible, Saint Jerome. He said, Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. We prayerfully ponder the Gospels so as to come to know Jesus Christ. And so let's open our hearts, our spirits, to the risen Lord Jesus Christ. We take a moment to quiet our inner cells. If you will, take a deep breath slowly in and slowly out. Come, Lord Jesus. Allow your Holy Spirit to bring your word to life in me. May I hear your voice, good shepherd. Reading a passage from the Gospel now is the first step of the ancient prayer of Lectio Divina. By reading, we begin to grow in familiarity with the passage, opening ourselves to the movement of the Holy Spirit carried on the words of the Gospel. On this Sunday in Ordinary Time, we read from Mark's Gospel, chapter 1, verses 29 through 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 the Galilee. Recall, with last week's Gospel, we are here now in Mark's description of a typical day in Jesus' public ministry. These passages are so rich, so full. Stepping back, what we are given here is precious indeed. Described is Jesus healing, Jesus reaching out, touching and communicating new life, his releasing so many from bondage to evil spirits. In this way, darkness, sin and death are confronted with the radiance of God's life, love and grace pouring forth from the person of Jesus Christ. Allow yourself to stand in this cascade of love that is Jesus and that brings healing and freedom to us. Allow me to point out one particular aspect of this narrative. Focus with me on that encounter with Simon Peter's mother-in-law. On the surface, this is a healing story, and certainly it is, but it is more than a healing story. It is a call to ministry. Notice, Jesus approaches her, takes her hand and helped her up. Literally, in the Greek, he raised her up. This is a story of new life. What does the new life in Christ look like? We'll see what happens next. The woman is healed and she, we are told, waited on them. The Greek word used here comes from diakonia, meaning to serve. This word, diakonia, became in the early church the word par excellence for ministry, for what it is to be a disciple. A disciple is healed, freed from sin, for the service of God and the body of Christ. For a second time now, we read our gospel text. Please, friends, be aware these words are full of life, capable of healing us, freeing us from evil spirits. Be sensitive as the passage is read to how it speaks to you personally. What stirs your emotions, captures your imagination, stimulates your mind as you hear the reading. Once again, we open ourselves to the word as we read Mark 1, 29 through 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 the Galilee. The second step of Lectio Divina after reading is meditation. To meditate, we pause to ponder and reflect on what has stood out for us, to savor that word, phrase or image from the Gospel that speaks most powerfully to us. In meditating, we chew on the word to find its deepest significance for us today. What is speaking to you at this moment? I am most moved by what stands in the middle of this narrative. Between the bookends of ministry, first in the city of Capernaum, then of preaching throughout the rest of Galilee, Jesus, we are told, went off to a deserted place where he prayed. I am reminded, the source of Jesus' authority, his power to heal and liberate others, the force of his preaching and teaching, all of this flows from his intimate relationship with the God he calls Father. This relationship, even for the divine Son of God, demands time given over to prayer, to intimate moments dwelling with God alone. I can be a source of healing and blessing for the people I encounter day by day, only to the degree I lean into the life and love of God the Father, first of all in my daily prayer. Oh, Jesus, please, please teach me as you taught your first disciples how to pray. Teach me faithfulness to my relationship with the Father. Friends, let me invite you once again to continue to sit with this gospel passage. Notice what is it stirring within you? Talk to Jesus about what his word is saying to you now. Before leaving prayer, be sure to intentionally place the word you have received deep in your spirit, where the Lord might bring it growth throughout this week ahead. And friends, it is a joy to share the gospel with you. Amen.