My Dear People, 

When Jesus had cured people the previous evening, the next morning Peter was looking for Jesus, who had gone out to pray, because the people of Capernaum liked him so much that they wanted to see him again. What is important is that Jesus told Peter that they were going to go to a nearby town to preach the good news. What was the difference in thinking between Peter and Jesus at that moment? Peter had seen many miracles performed by Jesus, beginning with his mother-in-law, and he wanted Jesus to continue to do that in his town of Capernaum. What Jesus was thinking; he was there to deliver the message of the good news, and he did not want to restrict it to a small town, but wanted to go to other towns, so others might hear about it also. Peter's intention was self-interest, and so were the intentions of the people of Capernaum. Jesus’ intention was to fulfill his mission of preaching the good news. This is what he did, not only then but during his whole ministry. 

Here we see Jesus traveling throughout Galilee, relieving the suffering that people experience in this fallen world: illness, demonic possession, various diseases. These are evils that entered the world due to the fall of Adam and Eve, who voluntarily submitted themselves and their descendants. In this way, Jesus fulfills prophecies that the Messiah would restore Eden.

Then the wolf shall be a guest to the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them (Isa. 11:6).

I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the country of wild beasts so they will dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forests. I will settle them around my hill and send rain in its season, the blessings of abundant rain. (Ezek. 34:25-26).

Jesus shows himself to be compassionate, wanting to alleviate all the undeserved suffering of innocent and powerless people, who, like Job, suffer through no fault of their own but because of the sins of others and the wiles of evil. 

And so, the Church, following in her Lord’s footsteps, has always seen it as a priority to alleviate suffering however possible. The Church prays for healing and provides sacraments for the sick; she is also the mother of the hospital, the modern medical profession, the nursing profession, and the idea of  “health care.” At various times, the Church is blessed with persons who have the charism of supernatural healing. St. Padre Pio is one such example; many people were cured through his intercessions. He also was instrumental in building a hospital in his town, San Giovanni Rotondo, called Relief of Suffering. 

However, in the context of this Mass, we are invited to remember that the worst kind of suffering and sickness is soul sickness, which is the result of sin. And Jesus still goes around touching us, even physically, through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, both of which have healing power. If we are willing to let go of our tight grasp of our sins, Jesus will take them away and return us to “Eden,” a state of sinlessness and freedom from the dominion of Satan. The sacrament of Reconciliation is especially powerful in that regard. Let’s get to confession this weekend and then receive the Eucharist in the state of grace so that we can experience the healing power of Jesus in our lives today.

[A portion of this is taken from Reflection on the Sunday Mass Readings by John Bergsma]

Yours in Christ, 

Fr. Vincent Clemente