Gospel: Healing, Prayer, and Casting Out Demons

Today is the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time and the Gospel passage will be lifted from St Mark (1:29-39).

And at once on leaving the synagogue, he went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed and feverish, and at once they told him about her.

He went in to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever helped her and she began to serve them.

That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils.

The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were sick with diseases of one kind or another; he also drove out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.

Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, "Everybody is looking for you."

He answered, "Let us go elsewhere, to the neighboring country towns, so that I can proclaim the message there too, because that is why I came."

And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out devils.

Today we continue to read St Mark's Gospel, learning more about the ministry of Jesus. Jesus cured Simon Peter's mother-in-law, and she immediately began to serve Jesus and his disciples. Jesus also cured many others who were brought to him, healing their illnesses and driving out demons. As we will see throughout St Mark's Gospel, Jesus did not permit tye demons to speak because they knew his identity and would have revealed it to those who were present.

On the morning after this busy day, Jesus retreated in prayer, but was pursued by Simon Peter and others who brought news that many people were looking for him. At this point, we begin to see the role of the disciples as an intermediary between Jesus and the people.

Today's Gospel reading completes a picture of Jesus' ministry: preaching, curing the sick, driving out demons, and then moving on to continue this work in another place. Jesus did this throughout Galilee.

Jesus' compassion and healing for the sick is a sign of the Kingdom of God. The Church continues to extend Christ's healing presence to others in its ministry to the sick. In the Anointing of the Sick, the Church prays for spiritual and physical healing, forgiveness of sins, and comfort for those who are suffering from illness.

Today's Gospel passage we also notice the importance of prayer in Jesus' everyday life. Jesus rose early in the morning, removed himself from the crowds, and went to a deserted place to pray. When the disciples found him, he told them that it was time to move on. We believe that in his prayers, Jesus found guidance and direction from God. We also bring our decision-making to God in prayer, asking for his intervention in our lives.

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The Gospel is sponsored by Alfamart.