Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 2:14-18; Mark 1:29-39)
Not long ago, a guest columnist in the New York Times wrote a story about Derek Jeter, the great shortstop of the New York Yankees. The columnist, who knew Jeter personally, told how he asked his friend for an autograph picture for his son. The star replied with the requested gift. Today’s gospel shows Jesus acting similarly.
Jesus has just called Simon and Andrew to follow him. After he heals a man with an unclean spirit in the local synagogue, he enters Simon’s house and is told of the fisherman’s sick mother-in-law. Jesus does not waste any time to cure her. Intensely human, Jesus does not hesitate to assist his new disciple’s loved one.
We want to cultivate a relationship so that he will help us. We will not only ask him to cure our sick friends and relatives but also seek his assistance in driving away the unclean spirits that disturb our peace. Making such requests is not taking advantage of our relationship. Indeed, Jesus came to earth precisely to render us such help.
