Gospel Reflections for February 8 2015
That word got out fast when Jesus cured Peter’s mother-in-law of her illness. Soon the entire town was outside His door! I would have gone myself if I needed healing. Why not!
Jesus spends the whole day curing people, which made them all very happy. But then He leaves and goes to a mountaintop to pray …and does so quietly. Jesus often spent private moments with His Father in Heaven. Prayer is always a time to receive new and fresh insights, renewed grace, and important wisdom.
However, the Disciples manage to track Him down and ask Him to return. Amazingly, He says “No!” That meant some people would not be healed! You might wonder now why some get miraculous healings while others do not. Why is that?
From His mountaintop prayer Jesus understands that His mission is to proclaim the “Kingdom of God,” where you love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind, and you love others as you love yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). That is the mission of Our Lord.
Therefore, we must each take what we have and use it for that same wonderful purpose of love. So what do you have? If you have unique talents that are especially useful for His mission, then please use them. If you have good health, then please use it to love as Jesus asks. If you are sick, then you use your sickness to love as well. (See my article “What if I get sick?”)
In all Gospel miracle stories, every cure always had another more important purpose than just the recovery of physical health. For example, when Jesus cures Peter’s mother-in-law, she immediately gets up and serves others. Her cure was a means to make her power to love more possible. It is that love that is our purpose, not just health or sickness. Jesus freed her to love more. There is no point in being healthy or sick if we do not love.
Does God cure people today? Absolutely yes! If a physical cure will produce that impulse to love and perhaps also be a loving witness to others, then God will make a miraculous cure. If God believes that it is actually our physical illness that will produce that impulse to love, and also be an amazing witness of compassion and courage to others, then it will be His will that we should face our sickness as it is. He will always offer in abundance his compassion and courage to you.
He is still “Emmanuel” (God with us), the God who truly knows and deeply feels our illness just as we do, and will faithfully support us in every moment. There is no better companion! We can certainly pray for a cure, but while we wait, we are still followers of Christ, and still believe that our deepest happiness comes from freely loving God, others, and our self, in good times and in bad …in sickness and in health.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Excellent and good graphics!!! Very timely, as I’ll pass this on to Jen. Blessings, Patty
Looking forward to her response to it.
Hi Fr. Dave,
Your explanation of the Gospel reading for February 8th is very beautiful! I never thought of physical illness bringing about an impulse to love and being a witness of compassion and courage to others. Thank you for your very inspiring point of view!
God bless you! Sincerely, Jean
I am so glad you found my article helpful! I consider the longer article, “What if I get sick” one of the most important I have ever written.
Fr. Dave,
Thanks for pointing out that His Healings are not random but rather are given to enable a return to our mission! Also, when a healing doesn’t occur it’s because our mission can be accomplished without – perhaps even through the suffering! Great insight – thanks! Larry,
thanks for your response!
Great insights on daily living.
God will lead us if we allow Him.
“Lord to whom shall we go. You have the words of Eternal Life”
Yes, that is one of my most favorite verses in the Bible.
Nice Gospel reflections father Dave, while looking for physical healing for one thing or another we some times miss the main point and that is loving and caring for others, while our physical healing will come within God’s time frame.
Well said!
Agree that the graphic of the heart monitor is great.
(especially at Valentine’s Day)
Hello!
Thanks! I have to pass on your comments to Teresa Delgado, who is the website design manager who designs the page each week.
Beautiful explanation Father Dave!!! It all centers on love!!!What a precious thought that in illness or in health we must develop an impulse to love and radiate it to others!!! God is in that impulse and he wants us to love one another!!! Love our Faith and we are soooooooooooooooooooooo happy God chose precious you to bring us His love!!!
Love, Franca and Dick
Well said!
Fr. Dave
Thank you for the beautiful sermon at today’s funeral. It was a beautiful day!! As you stated her illness inspired her to love others and be compassionate. Your message is the true meaning of St. Valentine’s Day!!
Thank you!
Fr. Dave, your insights in this reflection, and especially in your article “What if I get sick?” have helped me tremendously as I face a serious disease, along with my four-year-old son, Ryan. The mental anguish has been particularly hard for me, and I can’t tell you how much your words have given me a new perspective to hold on to. Your words have given me hope for getting through this very challenging time.
God bless you!
Jennifer
You are very welcome! I am honored that my article “What if I get sick” has helped you. That is the very reason I wrote it. Please be assured of my prayers for you at this time.
Deepest thanks for the prayers.
Jennifer