Jesus would cure the sick, cast out evil spirits and proclaim the Kingdom of God.

With all his compassion and love for people, Jesus is not emotionally enslaved to them.

Hence, when the disciples tell him that everyone was looking for him,

Jesus tells that he has to move on, to other people and places.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Hebrews 2:14-18

And because all those

Children share one same nature of flesh and blood, Jesus,

likewise, had to share this nature. This is why his death destroyed the one holding the power of death,

that is the devil, and freed those who remained in bondage all their lifetime, because of the fear of death.

 

Jesus came, to take by the hand, not the angels but the human race.

So, he had to be like his brothers and sisters, in every respect, in order to be the high priest,

faithful to God and merciful to them, a priest, able to ask pardon, and atone for their sins.

Having been tested through suffering, he is able to help those who are tested.

 

Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the home of Simon and Andrew,

with James and John. As Simon's mother-in- law was sick in bed with fever,

they immediately told him about her. Jesus went to her and, taking her by the hand, raised her up.

The fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening,

at sundown, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had evil spirits:

the whole town was pressing around the door. Jesus healed many who had various diseases,

and drove out many demons; but he did not let them speak, for they knew who he was.

 

Very early in the morning, before daylight, Jesus went off to a lonely place where he prayed.

Simon and the others went out also, searching for him; and when they found him, they said,

"Everyone is looking for you." Then Jesus answered,

"Let us go to the nearby villages so that I may preach there too; for that is why I came."

So Jesus set out to preach in all the synagogues throughout Galilee; he also cast out demons.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"For that is why I came."

"Very early in the morning ... Jesus went off to a lonely place where he prayed."

The Gospel account presents us with "the whole town pressing around the door,"

desperate to see Jesus and to receive his wisdom and healing.

Such an intense ministering to people needs to be sustained and nourished,

otherwise it will dry up and the person will burn out.

 

This is why Jesus spent time in solitude and prayer each day.

This is important not only for those in ministry,

but also for all who seek to live out Christ's call to love one another.

Pastoral action and works of charity need to be grounded and sustained by prayer.

 

Without that foundation, our work will become mere frenetic activism,

which eventually fades when it loses its sense of purpose. This is why St.

Bernard of Clairvaux encourages us to be reservoirs of grace rather than simply channels of grace.

 

We are to stay close to God and be filled with his love,

letting that love overflow into our dealings with others, rather than being left empty by our activity.

If we stay close to God in prayer, our care and compassion will never run dry.