Good News: Healing and Hope

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: Mark 1: 29-39 (MESSAGE)

Directly on leaving the meeting place, they came to Simon and Andrew's house, accompanied by James and John. Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed, burning up with fever. They told Jesus. He went to her, took her hand, and raised her up. No sooner had the fever left than she was up fixing dinner for them.

 

That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, the whole city lined up at his door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn't let them say a word.

While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with him went looking for him. They found him and said, "Everybody's looking for you." Jesus said, "Let's go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I've come." He went to their meeting places all through Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons.

Last week we thought about those times in our lives when our anger, our frustration or our disappointment had power over us – possessed us in some way.  We thought about the ways in which we still need Jesus’ healing and the hope he offers from the demons in our lives. 

This week, Mark reminds us that Jesus’ ministry of preaching, teaching and healing is far from over.  In fact, it is just beginning.  From healing Simon’s mother-in-law to ministering with the crowd that finds him at Simon and Andrew’s home, Jesus – even after a very full day – still treats people with compassion and offers them the wholeness and freedom for which they long. Then Jesus needs a break!  So he goes to a solitary place to pray and rejuvenate. 

Even when we recognize our need for healing and hope, we too need to take a moment and find center again.  We need a time out in our lives to reflect on what has happened, what is happening and what we hope will happen.  We need time to be present in our own lives and to be grateful!

Join us this Sunday, February 5 at 10am in Christ Church for a service in which we celebrate Holy Communion, collect food for the Wellesley Food Pantry and experience God’s grace, healing and hope in our lives.  See you in Church!