'Her last two years were also full of pain, yet always of love and light . . .' Sunday Reflections, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

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Jan Josef Horemans II
A Sick Woman [Web Gallery of Art]

Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her (Mark 1:30; Gospel}.

Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland)

Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)

Gospel Mark 1:29-39 (English Standard Version Anglicised: India)

And immediately Jesus left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening at sunset they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is what I came for.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.


Léachtaí i nGaeilge


Pope Benedict with children [Source]

One of the striking features of the Gospels is the number of times Jesus healed sick people, usually an individual, such as Simon Peter's mother-in-law in in this Sunday's gospel, sometimes all who were sick or oppressed by demons in the same gospel reading. 

Continue at Bangor to Bobbio.


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