22nd Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 31st August 2022 — Gospel: Lk4,38-44
Strengthening Solitude
Today’s Gospel can be divided into three scenes: the first is Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law; the second is Jesus healing all sorts of people at all times of the day and night; and the third is Jesus in communion with the Father. Luke portrays Jesus as a man of action and yet a man of prayer, though he does not explicitly state here that Jesus prayed. He had engaged with the people and yet sought solitude to gather strength for fulfilling the Father’s will. Though the crowds wanted to prevent Jesus from leaving, Jesus seemed to have an internal clock that told him when it was time to move on. His actions were guided by the Father, in step with the Father’s salvific and redemptive mission. Jesus knew that the kingdom belongs to all. He had many seeds to plant before the consummation of his sacrifice out of love for all of humanity. And so, he moved on. This is an invitation for his followers to take up the work of healing in Jesus name and the need to be strengthened by the Father.
