Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Samuel Agcaracar SVD – Divine Word Seminary Tagaytay
Wednesday 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
Photo: Our Lady of Missions, Divine Word Seminary Tagaytay
Today’s Gospel narrative has four parts: the cure of Peter’s mother-in-law (Lk 4:38-39); the cure of many sick people (Lk 4:40-41); Jesus praying in a deserted place (Lk 4:42); and his insistence on his mission to go to other places (Lk 4: 43- 44).
In Jesus’ time, the sick and the possessed were the most marginalized people. They had no one to go to. They were at the mercy of public charity. Most people believed God punished, rejected, and excluded them. Since they were considered impure, then, they were isolated from the community.
How can we weave together these four parts?
Impelled by his prophetic calling, Jesus accepts and cures them, placing his hands on each one of them. He accepts and cures not only the sick but even those possessed by demons. In his ministry with the marginalized, he incarnates God’s kingdom to integrate all peoples into the community and live with others.
Jesus’ propensity toward the poor is grounded on two components—prayer and mission. He is united with the Father in prayer. Luke 4:42a says: “When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them.” Here we see Jesus making an enormous effort to have time available and a place suitable for prayer. He goes to a deserted place to be able to stay alone with God.
Through prayer, he maintains consciousness of his mission even though the people following him tried to prevent him. Jesus does not grant their petition and says, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too because that is what I was sent to do.” Thus, we can say that Jesus was very clear about his mission. He wishes only to fulfill the Father’s mission, which directs him to make a decision. “I have been sent for this!”
Such a consciousness and indomitable spirit for mission spring up from his prayer life!
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