Commentary on the Gospel of
Be healed to heal others
Jesus walked into Peter’s House, and there, he healed his mother-in-law, who had a fever. It was not just any house; it was the house of Peter. In the Gospels, the house of Peter symbolically represents the Christian community - the Church. In that house, there is a woman who is sick. The Church is the new Israel – the woman. This is the sick church that Jesus seeks to heal.
Once he heals the Church, he comes out of the House – to the people outside of the house, waiting for him, and he meets with the sick humanity – heals them of their physical and emotional illnesses.
Today, as we read and reflect on the Gospel, allow the Lord to walk into our lives. When we feel lazy and without charisma, not wanting to get out of our comforts and refusing to care for the needs of the Church, that is the fever that needs healing. When we are healed of our laziness and sluggishness, we can be healers of this wounded world.
Jesus teaches his disciples a big lesson as he begins his day with prayer. He teaches them to plan for a day's projects in God's presence. We need to listen to what the Lord is telling us; if we do not pray, then we will behave like everyone else, but not as disciples of Christ.
