Alberic Jacovone OSB
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YEAR B
FIFTH SUNDAY - 5.2.06
Job 7,1-4.6-7; 1 Cor 9,16-19.22-23; Mk 1,29-39
Jesus, our Teacher & Healer
One
day in Capernaum.
As a good teacher, Mark sets up today’s lesson in 4 concentric & opposing
objectives, with one main aim as centre story. In points 1&9, Jesus comes
out of the Synagogue in Capernaum, and then moves to proclaim the ‘Good
News’ in all the Synagogues of Galilee ( & indeed of the world!, since in
Rome alone, where Mark wrote his Gospel, there were 12 Synagogues!). In points
2&9, Mark contrasts the need for healing in one person with the needs in the
whole world. In points 3&7, the sensitivity of Jesus is contrasted with the
insensitivity of the disciples. And finally in points 4&6, Mark presents the
vastness of human needs to which we must respond with prolonged prayer. The
lesson’s aim sits in the very centre in point 5: to get us to understand &
be involved in Jesus’ immense mission of haling & compassion. In today’s
story, we can’t help noticing how accurate Mark is in his description. From
1965 to 1984, archeologists have carried extensive excavations in Capernaum (K’far-Na-chum,
an old town North-West of Lake
Kinneret -or of Galilee-: the name means: ‘Village of Nahum’). And they have
brought to light the location where the scene of today’s story took place. The
Synagogue & Peter’s house stand adjacent to each other both facing the
main street (cardo maximus) in fact the north-side of the house runs under the
balcony of the Synagogue. The house has even now some ancient inscriptions,
suggesting it is Peter’s house. Mark says: Jesus left the Synagogue, &
in-no-time (immediately) He was in Peter’s house, accompanied by Simon &
the other disciples. Here, Peter’s mother in law was bedridden & with
fever. Mark wants us to discover the sensitivity of Jesus, for one person, for
the crowd & for us.
The
Healing Mission of Jesus. As we read, we must keep in mind that it is Saturday & the Jewish
Saturday begins at sunset of Friday & lasts until sunset on Saturday. Being
the Day of God’s rest, work of any shape was not permitted, & this is why
Jesus begins his real work of healing after sunset. Remember that -on this day
& in this Synagogue- Jesus had just ordered an evil spirit to be quiet &
come out of the possessed person: & this had caused both admiration &
opposition. Jesus’ Mission of healing & compassion had just begun. He
walks out of the Synagogue & into the house next-door, where he heals
Peter’s mother in law, who is bedridden & with fever: ‘He came up - took
her by the hand - lifted her up & she was healed - & got up - &
began to serve them (preparing a meal for them). Yes, it was Saturday &
everyone was bound by the Sabbath rest: but soon as sundown came, people were
free to move & work, so they started bringing to Jesus all who were sick...
to the point that the whole town was gathered around the door. Notice again
Mark’s attention for detail. He seem to know the house well.... Archeologists
have identi-fied the house but also the place where the crowd gathered. There is
a large open space between the main road & the front door. And still (Mark
says) there was no standing room at the door in spite of the large front area.
Here is where later on some people will strip the roof and lower a stretcher
with a sick person on it... But Mark is saying all this, only to teach us the
main lesson. Namely, that we are to be involved in Jesus’ saving mission. Of
course people flocked to Jesus & brought their sick & Jesus healed them,
but it took a long time for the disciples to understand, that -just as Jesus
did- we too must respond to human need in prolonged prayer - work to alleviate
human suffering - bring to our Lord those who are sick & hurting - serve one
another in the Church, Christ’s body.
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