Wednesday in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Colossians 1:1-8

Psalm 52:10, 11

L uke 4:38-44 And he arose and left the synagogue, and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they besought him for her. (39) And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she rose and served them. (40) Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on  every one of them and healed them. (41) And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew  that he was the Christ. (42) And when it was day he departed and went into a lonely place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving  them; (43) but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose." (44) And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

* M editation by Don Schwager

W ho do you take your troubles to? Jesus' disciples freely brought their troubles to him because they found him ready and able to deal with any difficulty, affliction, or sickness which they encountered. When Simon Peter brought Jesus to his home for the Sabbath meal (right after Jesus preached in the synagogue in Capernaum), his mother-in-law was instantly healed because Jesus heard Simon's prayer. Jesus could not avoid drawing a crowd wherever he went.  No one who asked Jesus for help was left disappointed. Jesus' numerous healings and exorcisims demonstrated the power and authority of his word, the "good news of the kingdom of God." When he rebuked the fever, it immediately left. When he rebuked the demons, they left as well. Why did the demons shudder at Jesus' presence? They recognized that he was the Christ, the Son of God and that he had power to destroy their kingdom by releasing those bound by it. Jesus came to set us free from bondage to sin and evil. Do you seek freedom in Christ and trust in his power to set you free?

When Jesus and the disciples sought a lonely place to regroup and rest, they found instead a crowd waiting for them! Did they resent this intrusion on their hard-earned need for privacy and refreshment? Jesus certainly didn't but welcomed them with open-arms. Jesus put human need ahead of everything else. His compassion showed the depths of God's love and concern for all who are truly needy. Jesus gave the people the word of God and he healed them physically as well as spiritually. We can never intrude upon God nor exhaust his generosity and kindness. He is ever ready to give to those who earnestly seek him out. Do you allow Jesus to be the Lord and Healer in your personal life, family, and community? Approach him with expectant faith. God's healing power restores us not only to health but to active service and care of others. There is no trouble he does not want to help us with and there is no bondage he can't set us free from. Do you take your troubles to him with expectant faith that he will help you?

"Lord Jesus Christ, you have all power to heal and to deliver. There is no trouble nor bondage you cannot overcome. Set me free to serve you joyfully and to love and serve others generously. May nothing hinder me from giving myself wholly to you and to your service."

Supplementary Reading

A SlAVE of EGyPT

Leave us alone, let us serve the Egyptians… – Exodus 14:12

W hen you see the word Egypt, what comes to mind? A pyramid, right?

Did you know that it is believed that the chosen people of God were among the slaves who built the pyramids?

So why is it that after being freed by God, they still wanted to return and serve the Egyptians?

This is because the Jews found their identity in Egypt. They had been used to living as slaves. When they say their names, “a slave of Egypt” follows as their title.

Each of us also have our own “Egypt.” The Egypt in us is a sin that keeps us from freeing our spirits to receive God’s promises.

We like going back to this Egypt.

Even if we know that we have been freed from sin, we still do it.

Even if we know there is a Promised Land waiting for us, we continue to serve that Egypt.

Maybe when we know who we really are, we will be free from the Egypt that enslaves us. Arun Gogna

REFLECTION:

What is your Egypt?

Father, set me free from my mistaken identity by revealing to me who I really am — Your child.