Gospel: 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

In the morning ,long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off  to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him; and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.

Guidelines

He ‘took her by the hand and helped her up’

Let the passage remind you of someone who has offered you a helping hand in recent times. Perhaps, like Peter’s mother-in-law, you have been ill and a kind neighbour or family member visited.

Maybe you needed transport to a hospital appointment or just the companionship of another person?

Take time to reflect and give thanks for the healing hands of our doctors and nurses and all those who care for us in times of illness or distress.

He ‘went off to a lonely place and prayed there’

Mark tells us that Jesus made time in his busy ministry to pray and talk to his father. How much time do we make, in our busy lives, for our family members?

How often do we go to seek out a relative that we haven’t seen for a while?

Do we take time to actually talk and build relationships?

In this year of The World Meeting of Families we are reminded of the gift of our families and the life that we share.

‘Father, Protect all families with your loving care.’