Jesus cast out devils, cured, preached, prayed...Father, may they all be one

The Visit of the Doctor, by Louis Jimenez Aranda 1889 © Prado Museum, Madrid

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 7th February 2021 - Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, 'Everybody is looking for you.' He answered, 'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.' And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.

Reflection on the Painting

In our reading today so many facets of Jesus' life come together: being with His Apostles, preaching, going to the synagogue, casting out devils, healing, retreating to a quiet place to pray… This reading sums up Jesus' ministry: the Gospel of Life. 'The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message' are the very words at the start of Saint John Paul II's Encyclical, Evangelium Vitae. The Encyclical's opening words feel even more challenging during these times of pandemic, when human life is directly threatened. But then it is also a time where we see first hand how some people are putting into practice the Gospel of Life around us by helping the mentally ill, the physically sick, the elderly, the lonely, the homeless… so much good is being done around us in these very times… by people who rise up daily to the service of the community.

Our late 19th-century painting by Spanish artist Louis Aranda shows the tender care with which a doctor is attending to the patient. Onlookers are present… Are we just an onlooker and a spectator to the Gospel and to the world around us; or do we get stuck in, roll up our sleeves and help Christ?

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/694
Christian Art - www.christian.art/index.php