Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
When we truly love another person, as Christians, we ought to bring them before the Lord. In today’s Gospel we hear of many miraculous healings performed by Jesus, and truly we ought to be in awe and wonder of the saving power of the Lord. But there is another detail that may be easily overlooked in this passage; however, it can provide an important insight for us as we strive to live Christian discipleship. Before Jesus goes to heal Simon’s mother-in-law, the apostles “interceded with him about her.” Similarly, the Gospel passage notes that later in the evening “all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.” Both in the case of Simon’s mother-in-law and in the case of those suffering from diseases, other people are the ones who present the needy and their intentions before the Lord. And, Jesus hears them and responds.
In this way, Jesus is once again reminding us of the power of being intercessors for one another. As followers of Christ, we know experientially the goodness of the Lord; however, in our world we also all too often know of the trials and the sufferings of those around us. Yet let us not be discouraged and feel incapable of doing anything helpful; for at the very least, we can pray. And in the Gospel today, Jesus shows us the power of intercessory prayer. Therefore, with confidence in Jesus’ generous love, let us present one another before the Lord. Following the example of the apostles and those about whom we heard in the Gospel today, let us in our own way bring the needy and their intentions to Jesus.