Wednesday of the Twenty-Second Week in OT

In this message, the speaker emphasizes the importance of encountering Jesus through the Gospel and preparing for this intimate encounter through prayer. They discuss the ancient method of prayer called Lectio Divina, which involves reading, meditation, and reflection. They then share a passage from Luke chapter four about Jesus healing Simon's mother-in-law and curing various diseases. The speaker mentions the significance of Capernaum, the town where Jesus performed miracles, and encourages listeners to imagine themselves in the Gospel narrative and experience Jesus' healing power. They conclude by inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences with the Gospel and to talk to Jesus about what his word is doing in their lives. Greetings, friends. What a joy to share the Gospel. To prepare to encounter Jesus, which is just what is made available to us in the Gospel, the encounter with Jesus. To prepare for this intimate encounter, let's take a moment to quiet ourselves. 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. The first step of the ancient method of prayer called Lectio Divina is reading. We read to become familiar with the passage and its characters, to begin as well to experience the movement and the presence within the passage. On this Wednesday of the twenty-second week in Ordinary Time, we share the Gospel from Luke chapter four verses thirty-eight through forty-four. 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 Jesus. 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 Messiah. Recall with yesterday's Gospel, we moved with Jesus from Nazareth to Capernaum, the town Jesus has chosen as the center of his public life and ministry. Oh, my friends, if you ever get a chance to visit the Holy Land, surely you will visit this little town of Capernaum. It is so precious. Excavations of the first century village, the village of Jesus, began in the early twentieth century, uncovering two distinct buildings. A synagogue, one built on the foundation of the synagogue Jesus was just teaching at here in this Gospel, and the house-turned-church of Simon Peter's mother-in-law. Today you can walk the very short distance from one to the other, just like Jesus did on the very stone pavement Jesus walked on. Our Gospel passage, like that earthly sight, brings us into intimate contact with the ministry of our Lord Jesus. Once again, this passage is a wonderful example of the prayer mediated to us in Lectio Divina. We are placed in a position, through the Gospel narrative, to encounter Jesus who heals and saves us. Let's read the passage again, and as we do, be attentive to the story, avail yourself intentionally to Jesus who reaches out to touch you in compassion and with healing power. Once again, we read Luke chapter 4 verse 38 through 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 Jesus. 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 Messiah. We come now to meditation, that second step of the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. Here we become gently attentive to how the gospel is moving in our spirits. Do we feel Jesus' touch, hear his healing word, experience the power of his command rebuking sickness and the evil spirits? Are we drawn in like the crowd? Do we, in our prayer even now, bring our friends and family to him for healing? We pause to ponder and to reflect on our experience of the word. Today, coincidentally, I'm feeling off physically, a cold maybe. I'm tired, sluggish, stopped up, not really interested in anything around me, just not feeling well. They interceded with Jesus about her. Jesus, I come to you in my need, with my desire to be well, to be filled again with energy, with life. Jesus, above all, I want to be filled with your Holy Spirit, that I might always respond to you by waiting on you, serving your kingdom way. And friends, let me invite you again to sit with your experience of this gospel. How do you experience the presence of Jesus to you now? Talk to Jesus about what his word is doing in you at this moment. Ask him to bring this experience to life for you throughout this day. And friends, it is a joy to share the gospel with you.