Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, 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 town, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."  And He was preaching in the 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 

 

On Saturday, we read that after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel." And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.  When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.  And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.  And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught  them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit.  And he cried out, 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 unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.  Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this?  What new doctrine is this?  For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."  And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

 

  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.  My study Bible comments that this passage and 1 Corinthians 9:5 (in which Peter is called Cephas) tell us that Peter was married.  Additionally, it notes that Christ's healing miracles are diverse.  Here, He heals by touch; at other times He heals with a word (Matthew 8:13).  This healing is immediate and complete; others are gradual (Mark 8:22-25) or need the cooperation of the person being healed or that person's loved ones (Luke 8:54-55).  

 

  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.  Once again, as in yesterday's reading and commentary, we note St. Mark's repeated emphasis on what is called the Messianic Secret, as He did not allow the demons to speak.  That is, the heretofore kept secret of Jesus' identity as Christ, the Messiah.  

 

 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 town, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."  And He was preaching in the synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.  My study Bible comments that Jesus sets forth for us an example of spiritual life.  Although He is God incarnate, Jesus prayed continually, and frequently found a solitary place in order to be free from distraction.  This is despite the multitude's need of Him.  Christ's ministry comes forth from His communion with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, and from there flows to the people in their needs.  Christ's praying in the morning shows us that we must put as first priority our commitment to God, and after that we will be equipped to serve others.  

 

  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.   My study Bible tells us that the biblical law concerning leprosy is found in Leviticus 13 and 14.  Deuteronomy 24:8 gives us a description of the purification of lepers and leprous houses, which was a duty entrusted to the priests.  It says also that leprosy was considered to be a direct punishment for sins, and as lepers were unclean, they were not permitted to live in the community or to worship in synagogues or the temple.  To touch the unclear was forbidden (Leviticus 7:21), however Jesus touched the leper, expressing His compassion, and showing that He is not subject to the Law but over it.  My study Bible comments that to the clean, nothing is unclean (Romans 14:14; Titus 1:15).

 

In today's reading, we receive the clear message that there is a type of warfare going on behind the scenes, so to speak, in our world.  That is, there are unclean spirits, demons, created beings of a spiritual nature who are in opposition to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  These are beings created as angels, but as Scripture illustrates in various places, they have chosen to oppose the plans of God.  Most particularly this oppositional force is focused on human beings.  As we can see, Christ Himself is the divine Son, He is God, and therefore they are powerless to oppose Him.  All forms of healing seem to be seamlessly mixed with Christ's power to cast out the demons.  Often it is the demons who cause disease or illness in the Gospels, but their effects may be many and quite varied.  What we find in today's reading is interesting for its revealing of the recognition by the demons of who Jesus is.  Just as in yesterday's reading, they are subject to Christ's commands ("Be quiet . . . !"); in today's reading, we're told, He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.  Besides the fact that this Messianic Secret must be kept, besides the fact that all things in Christ's ministry must unfold in accordance with the Father, and therefore the revelation of His identity as Christ must come later, there might be another reason why we should take it seriously that Jesus forbids the demons or unclean spirits from speaking.  In Christ's time practices calling on such spirits or demonic powers were widespread.  Indeed we read in the Bible of prophesy or divination or magic or other practices by all kinds of means, and always with demonic influence of one kind or another involved.  We, in our modern sense of history without context, may completely underestimate how common such involvement was, for even the pagan gods that were worshiped were considered to be a part of these spiritual forces in opposition to the Holy Trinity and the other spiritual powers (or angels of various types) loyal to God.  Therefore, when we read that Christ forbade the demons or unclean spirits from speaking, we should consider that this is a powerful message in the context of these warring spiritual powers who also contest for human involvement in such practices.  That is, in terms of the practice of ritual magic, or even the common pagan worship of Christ's time, and many other such practices, there is a subtle message here that even if the demons seem to know something that is true, we as followers of Christ are never to go there.  Even with true information, such as that Jesus is the Christ, it's God's will that is supreme and that we must seek -- for all of salvation must work not in accordance with any random acts or bits of information, but for a specific pattern that unfolds in the right way and the right time (as we discussed in yesterday's commentary).  These sorts of practices that involve arcane knowledge or magic of one type or another are misleading at best, often causing trouble to those who practice or seek it, and leading to bad ends, especially involving people in evil they don't understand.  It's important that in our time we take this seriously, for there are all kinds of ways in which popular culture seems to take on a veneer of interest and curiosity in such practices under their many guises, and for varied reasons given.  Jesus' commands to the demons tell us not only who is the more powerful, but also give us the message of separation.  There is no compromise with evil.  Our God is not who we manipulate or coerce to do us favors.  The God we worship is the One who needs nothing from us, who loves us, and who offers us salvation instead, and shows us the way to walk in the light.  Let us not be tempted by the dark, but seek God's will only in all that we do, first.  Jesus shows us the way by starting everything with prayer.  Such manipulative practices as discussed above seek specific outcomes, view life in material terms alone.  A modern materialist mindset would tend to view outcomes as the one important value:  Christ's healings, for example.  But Christ begins with solitary time in prayer with God first, for this is our Source for all things, including which outcome is important and when.  For we can't know what God knows, but we can always seek God's will as Christ does.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because for this purpose I have come forth

 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

On Saturday we read that after John the Baptist was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel."  And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.  When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.  And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.  Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.  And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit.  And he cried out, 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 unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.  Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this?  What new doctrine is this?  For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."  And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

 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.   In the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus has just amazed the people with the authority He has expressed and commanded (see Saturday's reading, above).  Afterward they go to the family home of brothers Simon and Andrew, together with his other first disciples, James and John Zebedee.  Simon's mother-in-law is ill with a fever.  Again, Jesus acts in a commanding manner, and with authority He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up.  She is immediately healed, and she is restored "upright" to her place, which is a place of honor and dignity (to serve Christ and those in His ministry).

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.  The day continues, into the next day (in Jewish tradition, and in the tradition of the Church, the new day began when the sun had set).  In Capernaum, so many have heard what happened in the synagogue that they gathered at the door of Simon and Andrew's house, where all know Jesus is staying.  Once again, Christ does not allow the demons to speak (see Saturday's reading), keeping the Messianic secret of His identity.

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 notes here that Jesus sets forth for us an example of spiritual life.  Although He is God Incarnate, Christ prayed continually.  He frequently finds a solitary place so that He is free of distraction, despite the need of the multitude.  Christ's ministry comes from the communion as Son with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and it flows to people in their needs.  My study bible adds that His praying in the morning teaches us that we must put as first priority our commitment To God, and only with such preparation will we be equipped to serve others.  Notice also how Christ sets His priorities based on the fulfillment of mission as given through His relationship to the Father and the Holy Spirit, as He says, "because for this purpose I have come forth."  This despite the fact that "Everyone is looking for you."  He does not merely respond to demands of those around 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.   The biblical law regarding leprosy is found in Leviticus 13 and 14.  Deuteronomy 24:8 gives the method of purification of lepers and leprous houses, a duty which was entrusted to the priests.  My study bible comments that leprosy was considered to be a direct punishment for sins, and as lepers were unclean, they weren't permitted either to live in community or to worship in synagogues or the temple.  To touch the unclean was forbidden (Leviticus 7:21), but Christ touched the leper, as He is moved with compassion.  My study bible says that this shows He is not subject to the Law, but over it, and comments that to the clean, nothing is unclean. 

One thing that is not often commented on is the discipline of Christ.  It may seem to an observer that there is not a whole lot of forethought and planning going on here, not a lot of rules for Jesus to follow, no strict schedule.  But, in fact, that would be mistaken, and greatly so.  For Christ's planning and "timetable" (if you will) comes from His communion with the Father and Holy Spirit.  His discipline in rising in the early morning for prayer, before all things, is one that we should all endeavor to follow.  Moreover, there is a kind of strict discipline in the way that this man of compassion follows His mission.  He does not simply respond to every need that appears to Him, moved here and there by the demands of the crowds and even the needs of the sick.  His compassion is acted upon in concert with the needs of His mission, and the grace of God the Father.  It is not simply a response to human demands.  This is great mission activity, a strict discipline in response to a deeper and greater need than the individuals who look for Him everywhere.  We notice also that because of the leper's proclamation regarding his healing, Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places -- and still they were coming to Him from every direction.  The decision to remain outside of the city in deserted places is one that does not simply respond to the demand inside the city, but takes into consideration the mission and and the greater needs of His overall ministry.  Even Christ's great compassion -- He who will die on a cross for all of us -- is subject to the discipline as given through prayer and communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Our faith is not one of mere sentimentality -- it is not even one simply of pity or of compassion.  It requires of us a discipline to know ourselves, to bring out and respond to the best of ourselves and the care of our soul.  But everything comes under the heading of the discipline of communion, of response to the promptings of God.  Grace -- despite God's infinite mercy -- is not something that happens simply because we have demands and ways in which we want grace to be at work in our lives. Everything is designed for a kind of healing that surpasses anything that you or I understand about healing.  As cited frequently in this blog, St. Paul's prayer to be relieved of a "thorn in the flesh" was not answered in the way that St. Paul prayed for it to be answered.  He was, instead, given an answer that surpassed his own demand for a fuller understanding of right-relationship to God, and a more full revelation of grace, which indeed required discipline for acceptance on the part of St. Paul.  Here is St. Paul's testimony of God's response to his prayer:  "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Our faith operates within a type of discipline that it may be hard to understand to those who observe from outside.   From the Cross, there is one thief who confesses to Christ, and the other does not; it is to the first that He replies, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).  Christ's forgiveness is extended to all (Luke 23:34), but in order to realize that forgiveness and grace for ourselves, there is a process to go through, a kind of discipline, that has to do with our own repentance and "change of mind."   Let us notice, also, that Christ commands the demons to discipline; He does not allow them simply to reveal who He is to others, and have His mission defined in that way.  Similarly, He tells the leper not to speak to others, although human beings with free will do as they think is best!  Everything begins with prayer, and His rising early in the morning for prayer teaches us where discipline starts, begins, and ends.  Everything -- all healing, all mercy and forgiveness, and all grace and righteousness -- begins within this relationship and communion with God, and Christ's example is the one for all of us.  Too often we are tempted to abstract from Christ's ministry things which leave out the full picture.  Grace works hand in hand with a kind of discipline and process; it is not given at random or through whims or demands.  There is, instead, an overarching obedience at work, always.   Just as we raise a child to learn the true discipline of self-care and self-love, so Christ's love and compassion is not a mere response to human demand.  Instead, it falls within a continuum of what it means to be a disciple or "learner" in the Greek:  we are always brought to a higher love, a higher understanding, a greater knowledge and communion with God.  For it is in this that we are truly and fully healed, and in which we will really "find ourselves."  Let us not forget that the love of God has for us a purpose, a higher calling, a greater picture than that of which we are personally aware.  For that we are children who learn good discipline and obedience, a right way of being in the world and in communion with our Father, a sense of ourselves that is structured and deep within us, so that it does not fail us in times of trial and uncertainty.  We are prepared for something bigger than our daily woes, something greater than the demands we know and understand.  Let us be raised as good children, who grow to become mature and competent, and capable of responsibly sharing the infinite love and grace of God with the world, His way, by imitating Him.

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 speaking in the synagogue at Nazareth and being rejected there by his townspeople, Jesus 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.  This passage tells us that Simon Peter is married, and that his family home in Capernaum becomes a kind of headquarters for Jesus' ministry in Galilee.  1 Corinthians 9:5 also indicates the activities and participation of Peter's family in ministry after Jesus' Ascension.  Regarding the fact that Jesus rebuked the fever of Peter's mother-in-law, my study bible quotes the commentary of Cyril of Alexandria:  "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."  That Peter's mother-in-law immediately arose and served them tells us also of her participation in the ministry of Christ; her restoration is to her rightful place.

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.   Healing and exorcism come under the same umbrella.  Once again, as in yesterday's reading (see above), the demons recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God!  And again, Jesus, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak.

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.  Jesus' primary mission is to preach the kingdom.  My study bible says that miracles and healings testify both to the truth of the message, and also to the identity of the Teacher (see 5:24).  The same pattern will also be true of the Church (Acts 4:29-30). 

 Once the mission and ministry of Jesus has begun, His acts speak for Himself.  They speak for the Kingdom He is bringing into the world, and when He is not ready to yet directly reveal His identity as the Christ, it is His acts that speak of this identity as well.  Well-noted in the Gospel, as we have read already, is His refusal to allow the demons to speak and identify Him.  Rather, it is His action of speaking, preaching, healing, exorcism, and ministry that speaks about Him, and speaks to the presence of God in the world.  He allows His actions and ministry to do the talking when it comes to identity.  In yesterday's reading, the people marveled that He gave a word with authority and power, and gave commands to the demons in the same way.  It is this acting, speaking, preaching, healing, and commanding with authority and power that also speaks to Jesus' true identity.  In all ways, Jesus will allow His ministry itself to speak for Him, before He reveals His identity to the disciples and to others.  It is not the expectations of the world that count; it is the mission, as given by the Father.  We should think about Jesus' way of being in the world and presenting Himself as a guide to our own lives.  How do our actions speak about who we are?  Do we live a prayerful life, as He did, following what we find in faith to do -- and the ways in which we need to act?  This is His center:  a life fully lived in conjunction with the will of the Father, where what He does speaks of Himself and also represents the Father in the world.  Our integrity also can depend on such a way of life, where what we do speaks for us, so long as we find guidance in the same ways that Christ does.  He doesn't act simply to follow an image, or a social code.  He doesn't speak about Himself in the ways we'd expect someone seeking fame or renown to do, as in a modern public relations campaign.  Instead, He lives.  He acts, breathes, thinks, preaches, and works in accordance with the ways He is direct to, in faith and relatedness to the Father.  Let us consider running our own lives in this same way, a kind of integrity from the inside out, rather than the outside in.  Let us truly live, and glorify God in so doing.

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 Jesus 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.   My study bible quotes Cyril of Alexandria here:  "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."  We also learn here that Peter is married with a family, and we catch a glimpse of this life in his home, in which Jesus and the disciples are also present.

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.   In a way, we're given a sample of "a day in the life" of Jesus' ministry.  He begins by preaching.  He returns "home" to Peter's house, where they find Peter's mother-in-law ill with fever.  She's healed, and the meal begins.  As the sun is setting, the sick come to Him.  Healing is inseparable from His mission for the Kingdom in the world.  And yet, His true identity must for now remain His secret.   In all kinds of circumstances, Jesus is present and intervenes; the varied healings are as diverse as the circumstances and the people who need His help.

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.  Daybreak comes, and Jesus begins the day with prayer, relationship to the Father, an inseparable, profound basis for all that He does and is.   My study bible says that Christ's primary mission was to preach the kingdom.  It notes, "Miracles and healings testify both to the truth of the message and the identity of the Teacher (see 5:24).  This same pattern holds true in the Church (Acts 4:29-30)."

It seems that Jesus has a most definite mission, and we're given glimpses of His determination and efforts to stick to that mission.  People always want to interfere with it; they have other personal concerns, like wanting to make Him king (John 6:15).   But Jesus is always true to His mission, always ready to follow the leadership of the Father.  And this is real leadership, that we are willing to do so, as well.  Sometimes it's not necessary that the whole world know our "mission."  In today's reading, we have Jesus discussing the purpose He is here in the world ("for this purpose I have been sent"), even if His identity for now must remain a secret.  I read a quotation recently from Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche communities.   He said, "In a true community, each of us is able to keep our own deepest secret which must not be handed over to others nor even shared. Each of us should be able to deepen our own personal conscience and mystical life. It is precisely here that the weakness and strength of the community lie. There is weakness because the ways of God for an individual are not always those of the people at the head of the community or what human reason and experience establish. But the strength is in putting people first. There is nothing stronger than a heart which loves and is freely given"  (Jean Vanier, Community and Growth, pg. 21).  Jesus really exemplifies what Vanier is saying, and in so doing, He sets the example for all of us.  We begin -- in our relationships with others -- precisely with our relationship to God, to the Father.  That is just the way Jesus begins His day.  We each of us have a mission.   Christ has exemplified what it is to be on such a mission.  In this "secret place" of prayer with the Father, this mystical place of connection to God, we find our mission.  Sometimes this very tender place mustn't be shared with anyone, it must be guarded and kept in our hearts, and properly nurtured.  But there will come a time when it sprouts growth, and parts of it may be shared with others, put into community, and then shaped and redefined by that experience of community and those whose hearts are with us, with love. That is, with prayerful intention as well.  That's the purpose of a spiritual director or confessor.  But in every case, it is within the context of love and faith that we want our best, highest, most precious capacities for mission to be fulfilled.  Let us follow Jesus' example, and remember where all our priorities really come from, and how to put them in place each day, each morning and night.