REFLECTION FOR TODAY
September 1, 2021
By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA
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. Lk. 4:38-39
We all know what it is like to ache, shiver and feel a pounding headache and dizziness too. That may have been what Simon’s mother in-law was feeling when arrived their home and with a simple word of command healed her and immediately, she waited on them as revealed in our gospel reference today.
This was Jesus first visit to Capernaum as He begins His public ministry, He had taught in their Synagogue, cast out a demon, and then went to the home of Simon where He performed His first recorded physical healing in the Gospel of Luke. After the healing of Simon’s mother in-law, people brought to Him the sick and possessed, and He “Laid his hands on each of them and cured them.”
Jesus certainly got their attention because, as He prepare to leave the next morning, after this first visit during His public ministry, the people tried to convince Him to stay. However, Jesus 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.”
Has Jesus ever gotten your complete attention? Though you most likely have never witnessed a miraculous healing firsthand or seen a demon being cast out of one who was possessed, Jesus still wants your full attention. He wants you to be so amazed at Him and so impressed by Him that you find yourself seeking Him out to be more fully fed by His divine teaching.
Jesus is the great Physician. He healed each of us too in different ways. He had delivered us from the bondage of sin that separate from God. He continues to heal us of our sickness of soul, our bitterness, our sense of meaninglessness, fears, and addictions. Simon’s mother in-law did not wait around but in gratitude did the needful. How should we respond to the great healing we have received? When do we get Jesus’ full attention?
Some people give their full attention to our Lord after a powerful experience on a retreat. Others are struck by a powerful sermon. And there will be countless other ways by which Jesus has gotten your attention to fill you with a desire to listen to Him and be with Him. Such experiences lay a wonderful foundation by which we are continually invited to turn to our Lord. If this is not an experience to which you can relate, then ask yourself the question “Why?” Why haven’t you been amazed by our Lord to the point that you fervently seek Him out to listen to His nourishing Word?
Reflect upon any way that you have encountered our Lord powerfully in the past. Have you allowed that experience to become an ongoing motivation for you to seek Him out? And if you cannot point to any such experience, beg our Lord to give you an interior drive to desire more of Him and to be fed by His holy Word and divine presence.
Lord, I know that You desire my complete attention in life. And I know that I am often distracted by many things that compete with You. Give me the grace I need to become so amazed by You and by Your action in my life that I fervently seek You out to be continually nourished by Your holy Word and divine presence in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.