To read the texts click on the texts: 1 Sam 3:1-10,19-20; Mk 1:29-39
The text of today is made up of three parts. In the first part
(1:29-31), we are told of the healing of Simon’s Mother-in-law. This miracle
story follows the pattern of the typical healing stories of the Synoptic
Gospels in which three clear parts can be distinguished. These are the
narration of the case, the cure (in the larger majority of the healing miracles
of Jesus it is merely with a word and/or the act of lifting the person up) and
the confirmation that the person has indeed been cured. Here, after her healing
she begins to wait on Jesus and his disciples. While on the one hand this
detail communicates that she was healed completely and can now serve, on the
other hand, Mark may also have intended to communicate to his readers, that
healing is for service.
In the second part of today’s text (1:32-34), numerous sick are
brought to Jesus, who heals them all. There is also at the end of this section
the command to silence, which is connected to the Messianic Secret in the
Gospel of Mark where Jesus does not allow demons to tell other who he is,
because he did not want to be misunderstood simply as a wonder working Messiah.
In the third and final part of today’s reading (1:35-39), we are
given an insight into a very personal aspect of the life of Jesus; his prayer.
In this context, the content of Jesus’ prayer seems to be discernment on
whether he must stay or move. While it would have been easier to stay because
of the approval he receives here, as is evident from the comment of his
disciples that he was being sought after, Jesus opts to move because that is
what he sees as his Father’s will, and Mark makes abundantly clear on numerous
occasions in his Gospel that nothing and no one can come between Jesus and his
Father’s will.
The talents that we have and the gifts that we possess have been
given to us in trust. We have therefore to use them to enhance life and
continue to be co-creators with God in his work of building the new heaven and
new earth.
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