He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed

Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons, and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded as a testimony to them." However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

- Mark 1:29-45

In yesterday's reading, we were told of Jesus gathering to Him His apostles - the brothers Simon and Andrew, and James and John Zebedee. Jesus taught in the synagogue at Capernaum, and publicly cast out a demon. Jesus' authority is on display, something astonishing and commanding to those who witness. "And,"we were told, "immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee." See The kingdom of God is at hand.

Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. We recall that Jesus has just publicly cast out a demon in the synagogue (see yesterday's reading). Here, in a much more intimate family setting, Jesus also takes time out to heal - this time by touch. I'm always struck by the addition in this story (it appears also in Matthew and Luke) that Peter's mother-in-law immediately got up and served them. In a sense, she's restored to her place in the whole economy of the family and the community, doing what she wishes to do. And there is a tenderness in the family scenes we see connected with Jesus' ministry. These men are Jesus' devoted followers, His first apostles - but family life is also a part of this Christian community, and in some sense whole families and households are involved in it.

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons, and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. Just as we were given a taste of the intimate life of His closest circle, now we understand His public work. The "whole city was gathered together at the door." All come for healings of many kinds. And yet, Jesus does not want to be identified: "He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him." And true testimony comes of love and trust. This is the only way He wishes to be identified, by those who come to Him through love.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. My study bible has a note here which is informative -- "Mark is the only Gospel which gives us a full 24-hour day in Jesus' life, a day built around prayer and ministry. Jesus is the model for both, and He does not separate them. Jesus' priority is prayer to His Father: prayer before service. He goes to a solitary place (v. 35) to be free from distraction, despite the multitudes' need of Him. His ministry comes out of His relationship with His Father, not foremost out of people's need. Here He moves along to the next towns (v. 38). He knows His task, and performs it although the crowds clamor around Him." I like the understanding of Jesus' withdrawal in order to be alone with God, in prayer. This is the second time we're told of His journey to a solitary place - the first was right after Baptism, when the Spirit "drove Him into the wilderness." There is important work to be done in solitary, so that He may achieve His purpose for "coming forth," which is to preach to many, as He indicates. We get a full picture of the public and private man in these verses - and that, by now, "everyone is looking for Him."

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded as a testimony to them." However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction. A note here reads: "As the dialogue between the leper and Jesus demonstrates, Jesus heals from compassion -- not from duty or a need to prove Himself, or in order to gather a following. Jesus' authority is comprehensive: (1) in teaching, (2) over demons (vv. 21-28), and (3) over sickness -- powerful testimony to His divinity. But He wishes this and His messiahship to be kept a secret." It's important to know that leprosy was a disease that was regarded as punishment for sins, and that it was regulated by biblical law. To touch a leper was forbidden; Jesus' healing touch here is significant. Lepers were considered unclean, and hence separated from the community by strict rules. To show himself to the priest is required of the leper in order to receive a certificate so that he may rejoin community as "cleansed." So we see in this reading in Mark a repeated revealing of the intimate nature of Jesus: He is a man of compassion, as my study bible points out, and a public ministry does not prevent Him from expressing His personal tenderness in all relationships - and those relationships are varied, as we see. From Peter's mother-in-law to the public healings, Jesus demonstrates His willingness to include all, to express His compassion, to touch on so many levels of what "touching" does and is. And again, we note that Jesus forbids a public testimony, but rather instructs the healed leper to do what is required of him under the law. My study bible points out: "Jesus touched the leper, showing His compassion, and demonstrating He is not subject to the Law but over it. To the clean there is nothing unclean." Jesus instructs this man to testify to the priest alone, but of course the joyful man cannot contain this "good news." From then on, Jesus' fame curtails His ability to work and move about freely in the city.

I'm intrigued by the personal nature of what is reported in today's reading. While Jesus' fame spreads, He clearly is a man of very tender and personal nature. He touches each one, in some sense. The relationships are personal with Him. He withdraws to be alone in prayer and communion with the Father. His message is for all and for each one. His healings are those things which come about through relationship and compassion, and we're taught about those who are on the margins, not the powerful and important in the society: Peter's mother-in-law, a leper, those possessed by "unclean spirits." Jesus' reserve of power is for those who need it and who will be pulled into relationship with Him - and this is the power of compassion. It's not about an anonymous sense of charity, or even doing good, but about the practice of love as guided by the Father. And here we reach an important notion about our faith: it comes from and leads into deeper and deeper relationship. God is love, we are told in John's letter. The reason why we need communion with God, why we need this faith and connection and relationship is so that we may better learn love: how to live it, how to practice it. It's not an abstract and it's not something we're perfect at. It requires of us the development of the personal, and relationship. Let us consider then Jesus' prayer in the wilderness, His necessary preparation before ministry, and think how much more we may need it if He did!