Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
January 14, 2009
By Melanie Rigney
Since the children share in blood and Flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. …Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. (Hebrews 2:14-15, 18)
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. (Psalms 105:8)
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told (Jesus) about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. (Mark 1:30-34)
Piety
Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to you. Allow Your healing Hand to heal me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others; touch my heart with Your courage and infinite Love for all; touch my mind with Your Wisdom, and may my mouth always proclaim Your praise. Teach me to reach out to You in all my needs, and help me to lead others to You by my example. Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Touch gently this life which you have created, now and forever. Amen. (From the priests of the Sacred Heart Monastery in Hales Corner,
Study
About forty years ago, I lost my footing while walking across the
About twenty-five years ago, I lost part of my thyroid in surgery to determine whether it was cancerous ... and the base of my neck still bears witness.
About twenty years ago, I lost a semi-drunken battle with an ATM … and my right thumb nail still bears witness.
Scars. Those of us who share in blood and flesh all have them. They can be part of the price of a physical, emotional, or spiritual test. Sometimes we wear scars with pride ... proof that we survived a battle. Sometimes they embarrass us and we do all we can to hide them with surgery and cosmetics. Either way, they’re still there. They don’t make us ugly or beautiful; they just make us who we are.
Since he shared in blood and flesh, Jesus had scars too—the ones he suffered on the cross; the emotional ones he must have been suffered with the loss of Joseph, John the Baptist, and other people he loved. Yet, through his tests, as today’s first reading says, “he is able to help those who are being tested.”
We see so many instances of Jesus’ healing in the Gospels. Today’s selection is particularly instructive, as Mark tells us Jesus drove out demons by “not permitting them to speak because they knew him.”
Similarly, once we’ve known and conquered a demon—cancer, alcoholism, fear—it’s a lot harder for that force to have power over us. Our scars are outward signs of our victories. So is our willingness to grasp the hands of those still in those demons’ hold. Sharing the experience of our testing can help those who still are being tested.
About three and a half years ago, I lost the struggle to keep Christ out of my life … and, thanks to many of you who are reading this right now, my soul and voice bear witness.
Action
What are the names of your demons? Write them down this morning—and resolve not to permit them to speak today.
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