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.
Reflect.
Healing lies at the heart of Jesus’ earthly ministry. We see it in today’s Gospel as he heals
Simon’s mother-in-law and all the people brought to his door. We all need some kind of
healing. Perhaps we struggle with physical illness or limitations, mental disorders, or
addictions. Perhaps we seek healing of past trauma or we need to heal broken relationships.
We can bring all of these needs to Jesus.
Jesus’ healing is closely related to our care for others. Think of the people who brought their
sick family and friends to Jesus’ door at sundown. After a long day of work, they set out to find
Jesus, likely waiting hours for his healing touch, all the while caring for their friends. Early the
next morning, Jesus went out to pray, recognizing that his relationship with his Father was the
foundation of his ministry.
As we bring our need for healing to the Lord, we cannot forget the needs of others. Together,
we approach the Lord in mutual service, trusting that the Father we turn to in prayer will make
us whole.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022