I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent

Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house. But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

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. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" and He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

- Luke 4:38-44

In yesterday's reading, Luke's Gospel told us of Jesus' preaching in Capernaum. As He spoke, a man possessed with a demon asked, "What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?" Jesus commanded the spirit to come out of the man. All were amazed at His authority -- not only in His preaching, but also over the unclean spirit.

Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house. But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. Simon (Peter)'s house becomes their "headquarters" in Capernaum. My study bible points out that the Gospels let us know Peter was married and had a family. In many of the stories in the Gospels, it's not just one individual but whole families who choose conversion and baptism. The entire community is impacted through relationship -- even though we have already seen that in Nazareth, His hometown, Jesus is rejected. In the Gospel of John, this includes "brothers" of Jesus. In this case, Simon's mother-in-law is ill. In yesterday's reading, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and here he rebukes a fever. We see the parallel of healing: whatever needs to be addressed for full health is met in Christ with a reconciliation that dispels what needs rebuking. She is once again restored to her place, upright, "she arose and served them," doing the work she wishes to do.

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. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" and He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. Here in the verses following the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, we see the linking of physical, mental and spiritual health. Jesus' healing touch applies to all -- but again, there is something going on behind the scenes of our familiar worldly lives. The demons know who He is, and He does not allow them to speak. Faith for we human beings must take a different journey, and it is not the time He chooses for this revelation of His identity. In addition, theirs is not a confession of faith, but of fear.

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee. The crowds follow Him wherever He goes, although He seeks a deserted place -- most likely to pray. This is a repeated story in the Gospels; the crowds follow Him even as He seeks time alone in prayer. But the whole passage quoted here gives us a sense that Jesus is on a journey, and He must be moving on. He has things to do. Not only has He moved on from His very active and busy ministry (in today's reading, of healing), into a place where He can rest in prayer with the Father, but He also must move on to other cities. He has a job to do. He cannot remain in one place -- He doesn't respond to every single request simply because people ask it of Him. He must go to all the cities of Galilee and preach. My study bible notes that "Jesus' primary purpose was to preach the kingdom of God ... the miracles testifying to the power of the gospel message which He preached." And His ministry is not merely active in good works, but He returns to His relationship to the Father, in which He rests and prays, as if this is His real food and drink.

What do we make of Jesus' healing ministry? The ailments He heals are diverse, and they take many forms. Some are gradual, some require the assistance of others, some immediate. Some with a touch, others even by secretly touching the hem of His garment. But healings are always complete; they don't neglect any part of the person. Just as this Gospel passage teaches us there is more than meets the eye to what is going on in this world, so there is more than meets the eye to our whole person that may need healing. "Reconciliation" in Christ's touch takes in our whole selves, and the whole of the cosmic reality in which we are fashioned and that holds the world into which we are born. What do you feel needs healing in you? There is no part that must be neglected -- it is the whole self, and the whole world, which Christ seeks to reconcile to the Father, to restore to our places in full health. "For God so loved the world" -- that takes in so much, we must not forget. And we, like Him, are also on a journey, and cannot remain "in one place" with a set of demands that lock us into that place. Where does God's healing lead you today? And do you also "get away" to take the alone time you need for prayer?