Keep Spreading the Gospel
Sep 5: Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s readings are all about spreading the Gospel. In the passage from Luke, Jesus wants to maintain his Messianic Secret for a little while longer. Paul, writing to the Colossians, is excited that his message is spreading to cities he’s never even been to!
Reading 1
Col1:1-8
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.
Paul tends to structure his epistles the same way every time—
But he still personalizes the letters, which helps gives us context for what was happening in the early Church. Here, for example, he mentions Epaphras, who had preached in Colossae before catching up with Paul.
Paul himself had never been to Colossae, and would never in his lifetime. Yet, he’s aware of the Church there. He thanks God for the spreading of the Gospel. Paul’s work has been fruitful, spreading from person to person, city to city.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 52:10, 11
R. 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.
It was believed that the trees growing near the temple were particularly fruitful, thanks to God’s presence. The olive tree can’t water itself; it has to trust in God to bring the rain. We, also, have to trust in God’s mercy.
Alleluia
Lk 4:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
More than any other gospel, writer Luke is concerned with Jesus’ attitude toward the economically and socially poor. Jesus doesn’t forget our Earthly needs while we’re still living this life.
Gospel
Lk 4:38-44
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.
Simon’s mother-in-law is a wonderful example for all disciples of Christ. Because of her son’s great faith, he brought Jesus to her, and she was healed. But she didn’t leave it at that. No, she immediately began serving.
Service to the poor and needy, the sick and afflicted, is a vital part of the Gospel. A cure would be meaningless if she didn’t continue to do God’s work.
After many miracles, Jesus needs to move on. Not because he doesn’t like staying at Simon’s house; He wants everyone to hear the Gospel, an example that Epaphras and Paul follow.
Jesus did ask the people to keep the secret of his Christhood to themselves, at least for now. The plan wasn’t to be fully revealed until after the Resurrection.
We’re long past that, now, so we should not keep our mouths shut about Jesus. We shouldn’t try to prevent Him from “leaving” us. No, we should be spreading Jesus out, so to speak.