Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
September 1, 2021
Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 433
Reading I
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Timothy our brother,
to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:
grace to you and peace from God our Father.
We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when we pray for you,
for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and the love that you have for all the holy ones
because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.
Of this you have already heard
through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you.
Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing,
so also among you,
from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth,
as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave,
who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf
and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm
- (10) I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I will thank you always for what you have done,
and proclaim the goodness of your name
before your faithful ones.
R. I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.
Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.
She got up immediately and waited on them.
At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”
But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that he was the Christ.
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them, “To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.”
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Reflection: JESUS AVOIDS PERSONAL GLORY
Jesus has returned from a heavy day's work of teaching and proclaiming the Kingdom. He is tired and ready for rest. He enters the house of Peter. They show him Peter's mother-in-law who is sick in bed. Jesus goes straight away and taking her by the hand raises her up and the fever leaves her. She is ready to serve Jesus and the other disciples. She knows that Jesus is the boss of her son-in-law, Simon. Usually mother-in-law is a figure of fun. Jesus doesn't make any joke or remark. He goes ahead and heals her without any fuss and then goes about his work as usual. He does not show that he is interested in making a show or display of his godly power. All he wants is to help someone in need. When we look at Jesus we see someone who would rather do some good rather than make a show of it. Jesus does just that and after that many people are brought to him to be cured and he heals them all. There is a commotion and excitement. People crowd around the door. They are all talking about this wonder worker. Seeing the popularity of Jesus, the disciples would have liked him to carry on doing just such great works of power. However, Jesus takes a bit of rest and then proceeds to a lonely place and begins to pray. In the morning they come looking for him. When they find him they want him to stay on and do more wonders. But Jesus is not keen on popularity. He wants to proceed to other villages and spread the good news also to other peoples. That is his mission. They cannot distract him. And Jesus went his way with