Today’s readings build on what we heard yesterday. However, while yesterday’s readings spoke more generally, today’s readings bring the ultimate authority of Jesus into the human framework of daily life, even family life.
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds them that Jesus did not come to help angels. He came to help the children of Abraham, human beings with all the difficulties that human beings experience. Jesus came among us knowing all along that he would have to struggle with the issues and problems that we human beings deal with every day, specifically with the temptations that we face every day. Jesus suffered as we suffer. Jesus was tempted as we are tempted. However, there is one difference; Jesus did not give in to sin.
After dealing with the evil spirits that he encountered in the synagogue of Capernaum, Jesus retired to the home of Peter where he encountered Peter’s mother-in-law. From what we know of the culture of Jesus’ day, we should realize that something was amiss. Women stayed in the homes of their husbands, and after their husbands died, they lived with their eldest son. Peter’s mother-in-law is out of place; there is something amiss in the family relationships. Jesus notices this and notices that she is suffering from a fever. Simply by grasping her hand, Jesus lifts her up from her bed. This would mean that Jesus entered the part of the house that was reserved for the women. This slight breach in the family norms restores order to the family. However, it also signals that Jesus can help in such family situations and personal illnesses. Word spreads, and others come.
God is present in our daily lives and in our personal struggles in the person of Jesus. Jesus presents himself to us every day to help us in our struggle. This is as true for us today as it was for Peter’s mother-in-law and the citizens of Capernaum.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator