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

Yesterday we read that, after being rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.  And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.  Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon.  And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Let us alone!  What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did You come to destroy us?  I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!"  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"  And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.  Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is!  For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."  And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

 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.  We see an integrated community of believers in Capernaum, where Peter has his home.  This passage tells us that Peter is married, with an extended family, which becomes home and headquarters to Christ's ministry.  My study bible quotes St. Cyril of Alexandria, who writes about Jesus' rebuke of the fever of Peter's mother-in-law:  "That which was rebuked was some living thing unable to withstand the influence of Him who rebuked it, for it is not reasonable to rebuke a thing without life and unconscious of the rebuke.  Nor is it astonishing for there to exist certain powers that inflict harm on the human body."

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.  Jesus' capacity to heal becomes a strong and early focus of His Galilean ministry.  All know about Him, to the extent that their sick are brought to Him.  Once again, as in yesterday's reading (above), the demons know who He is, but He rebukes them and doesn't allow them to speak; He does not want His identity revealed in this way and at this time.  We note the connection of illness and demonic activity; not all illnesses are linked to this, but their co-incidence is evident here.  All things seem to stir around Christ, both illness and demons fail to remain in place in His presence and action.

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.  My study bible tells us that Christ's primary mission was to preach the kingdom.  Miracles and healings testify both to the truth of the message and also the identity of Christ as Teacher.  This same pattern holds true in the Church under the apostles (Acts 4:29-30).   Let us note that before each new expansion of His ministry, Jesus retreats in solitude and peace for prayer.

Jesus' influence begins to have hallmark effects on the communities of His ministry.  He begins to tour around Galilee, so to speak.  He's established a pattern in Capernaum.  He preaches in the synagogue on the Sabbaths.  Today's reading gives us a picture of one Sabbath in His ministry.  He goes to the synagogue and preaches, and then returns "home" where Peter's mother-in-law is ill.  They request that He come to her; He rebukes her fever and heals her.  It is time for the meal, and she is well and rises to serve them, restored to her place in the home.  Later when the sun is setting, the community brings the sick to Him.  Many who are sick have demonic influence, and as in the synagogue the demons make themselves known -- and recognize Him -- as they are forced to depart and remove their influence from the community.  Jesus has power and authority over them, commanding them to silence.  It's as if the world is a lawless place as far as demonic activity is concerned, but Christ comes with law, power, and authority over them.  The next day, Jesus departs to a "deserted place" -- but the community comes seeking Him.  They try to persuade Him to remain, but He tells them that He must take His ministry to other cities in Galilee.  When Jesus retreats to a deserted place, it is always for prayer, a necessary time of rest, reflection, and consultation with the Father.  He tells them that He's sent to other cities also, and takes up His ministry in the synagogues of Galilee.  It's like Jesus is "all business."  He knows why He is sent and what He is sent to do.  He's on a mission, and He must complete it accordingly.  Jesus' ministry so far in its beginning has clearly been directed both by the will of the Father and the action of the Holy Spirit.  He has something He is supposed to do, and He's not alone, but has been sent to accomplish something, and He is faithful to that mission.  We can see His influence, His energy and power at work.  It is stirring up the world everywhere He goes.  People respond to the healing, but first He preaches and teaches.  What we can take from today's reading is how His power, authority, and influence work.  Is this what you want in your life?  We also note Jesus' repeated retreat for prayer and renewal, which occurs in the Gospels quite remarkably as a sort of punctuation between each new phase and expansion of ministry.  It is something we can all learn from.   Our lives unfold as Jesus' ministry unfolds.  We have something to do, but we live in a world where all kinds of influences and interactions are possible and will make up the story of our lives.   Like Christ, we should find that pattern of retreat and prayer as frequent "punctuation" in the midst of all else we do, particularly when we are working through a difficult time of transition and decision.  We call upon His words and His influence and power and authority to find our way and to help us in all circumstances.  Like Christ, we note also the Father and the Holy Spirit, the energies of mercy and grace we need, and the prayer to Our Father which Christ has given us.   Part of Christ's mission is also the training of His disciples who will become His apostles, saints upon whose work the Church will be established and expanded.  Let us call upon all these resources for ourselves, for influence and guidance in our lives.  We will follow our own "business" as we are directed, and call upon the community which He has established for us.  Let us keep to what we are to be about, as He does, and stay focused on the mission, through all things.