“To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” (Lk 4:43)
READING OF THE DAY
A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
1 COR 3:1-9
Brothers and sisters,
I could not talk to you as spiritual people,
but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ.
I fed you milk, not solid food,
because you were unable to take it.
Indeed, you are still not able, even now,
for you are still of the flesh.
While there is jealousy and rivalry among you,
are you not of the flesh, and walking
according to the manner of man?
Whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another,
“I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely men?
What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul?
Ministers through whom you became believers,
just as the Lord assigned each one.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.
Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything,
but only God, who causes the growth.
He who plants and he who waters are one,
and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor.
For we are God’s co-workers;
you are God’s field, God’s building.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Luke
LK 4:38-44
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 him.
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 Christ.
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.”
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
22ND WEDNESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Lk 4:38-44
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
Today's Word of God tells of Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law from a fever, and through that, God wants to express His love for all humanity.
The image of Jesus commanding the fever and the fever disappearing from Peter's mother-in-law, shows everyone that God's authority and power are infinitely mighty, there is no one like Him. Through that healing, God wants to express His love for all humanity. Only God's mercy can help people be healthy and peaceful.
God is the master of the entire universe and humanity. If humans did not have God to protect and heal us from all illnesses and disabilities, we would forever live in suffering in this world. But God's mercy always overflowed on all of humanity. He can not bear to abandon humans when we are suffering, sick, or disabled. He will touch every human's pain to care for and heal us. God does not abandon anyone who knows how to run to God to plead for help. As He has a desire to heal and save humans, He wants His work of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven to be spread to everyone throughout the world. He does not limit the healing of humanity to just one nation, one organization, or one small group. Instead, He desires to pour out those graces to everyone on this entire earth.
Therefore, today, God calls His apostles to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
- Go out and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven throughout the world, and spread God's mercy to all mankind. For that to happen, the apostles of God must become like Jesus Christ, look up at His image hanging on the cross, and follow His example: daring to give our own lives for the lives of others.
- As His apostles become like Jesus Christ each day, the strength, power, and holiness of God will reign in the souls of those people. Through this, the power of God will drive Satan out of the sick and sinners and will heal all illnesses and disabilities for others.
To receive God's strength and power, God calls His apostles today to:
- Be good shepherds.
- Live worthy of the calling to be children of God and to be chosen and sent by God.
- Live according to God's commandment: become like Jesus Christ, carry the cross with Him to Calvary, and suffer with Him to save sinful souls for God.
With that practice and with the power given by God, Satan will be terrified and will have to leave the sick and sinners.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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