Wednesday in the First Week of Ordinary Time, January 15, 2025

Mark 1, 29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him 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. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Today’s Gospel Reading follows that of yesterday, in which the Lord’s expelled a demon from a man in the synagogue.

Much can be deduced about Peter’s family in the first verse of today’s Reading: Peter was married; his mother-in-law was widowed, as she was living with Peter and not with her husband; she must not have had any sons because she would have lived with one of them rather than with her daughter and her daughter’s husband; and, Andrew lived with his brother, indicating that he was not married and had not quite reached the age for marriage.  We can also surmise that Peter’s wife was alive at the time — if she was dead, Peter would have remarried and his former mother-in-law would have to live elsewhere.

In general, St. Mark’s schematic-like depiction of the action shows the pattern of Christian prayer: those aware of a need pray to Jesus, trusting in his will to render assistance; the Lord attends to the need; the person who receives the help of Christ uses the gift he has received in order to serve him.  We notice here the instantaneous recovery.  The woman does not need to recuperate.  The Lord lifts her up to full health and she at once goes about serving him as though she had not just been near death.  The Lord is not some mere physician but God, the Creator of life.

The exorcism in the synagogue took place near midday and the news had time to spread to neighboring towns and villages.  People set out on foot, hastening before the wonder-worker departed.  The desperation of these sick and infirm shows clearly in the numbers that arrive and present themselves before him.  The courtyard that surrounded Peter’s house overflowed with them and with those who came to watch.

“He healed many.”  That is, he healed all who came to him, and there were many of them.  “He suffered them not to speak, because they knew him.”  The demons attempted to address him in various ways, seeking to weary him and getting him to give them some sign as to who he was, but the Lord would not accept the testimony of these evil creatures and so silenced them after they hailed him.  They did not know him but pretended to know him.

“Rising very early before dawn.”  The Lord began to heal after sunset when most people went to bed and then healed for some time, depriving himself of sleep since he intended to get up early in order to pray.  The Apostles likewise would have slept only a few hours.

“Simon and they that were with him.”  This would include Andrew and James and John.  Perhaps also Simon’s wife and her mother.  They went out into the wilderness outside their town in order to find him, for people continued to come to the house, some to listen to him and some to be healed.  

“All seek for thee.”  This brings to mind the words of St. Augustine: “You made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

“Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also.”  The Lord healed in his mercy, but the healings acted primarily as signs that God had come into the world and so the Lord moves on to other parts. He has only three years to preach the Gospel to Israel, and Capernaum counted only as one of very many towns: “He was preaching in their synagogues and in all Galilee and casting out devils.”  It is a reminder to the faithful that they should act on the Lord’s inspiration to repent and to perform good works now.  The work of our salvation is urgent.