AND HE HEALS ALL THEIR SICK
Introduction
In 1597, twenty-six Christians were nailed to crosses at Nagasaki, Japan. The best-known among them was Paul Miki, but there was also a Spanish Franciscan who had worked about ten years in the Philippines, Pedro Bautista. Their feast reminds us that the gospel is not destined merely for traditionally Christian countries. Everywhere in the world there are people who can follow Christ in a radical way, perhaps more consistently than we are willing to do. The Church is destined for all people.
Opening Prayer
God, Father of all,
we honor today missionaries and their flock
in whom Christ lived
and in whom he was crucified.
Give that messengers and teachers
of the good news of Jesus
may be one with their people
in life and in death
and dedicated to one another
and to you, our loving God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading – GENESIS 1:1-19
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Thus evening came, and morning followed–the first day. Then God said, “Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters, to separate one body of water from the other.” And so it happened: God made the dome, and it separated the water above the dome from the water below it. God called the dome “the sky.” Evening came, and morning followed–the second day. Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear.” And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared. God called the dry land “the earth,” and the basin of the water he called “the sea.” God saw how good it was. Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it.” And so it happened: the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. God saw how good it was. Evening came, and morning followed–the third day. Then God said: “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to separate day from night. Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years, and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth.” And so it happened: God made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night; and he made the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw how good it was. Evening came, and morning followed–the fourth day.
Responsorial PSALM 104:1-2A, 5-6, 10 AND 12, 24 AND 35C
R. (31b) May the Lord be glad in his works.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak. R.
You fixed the earth upon its foundation,
not to be moved forever;
With the ocean, as with a garment, you covered it;
above the mountains the waters stood. R.
You send forth springs into the watercourses
that wind among the mountains.
Beside them the birds of heaven dwell;
from among the branches they send forth their song. R.
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them all—
the earth is full of your creatures;
Bless the LORD, O my soul! Alleluia. R.
Alleluia MATTHEW 4:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MARK 6:53-56
After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.
Commentary
To bring the healing touch of Jesus.
Jesus’ response to the sick did not proceed from a detached commitment to needy humanity but from compassion towards each person. His action was in response to the hope expressed by the friends of the sick people through their practical readiness to put themselves out for their friends. Except for those with leprosy, the sick do not come to Jesus alone. They are brought to Jesus by someone who believed that Jesus could make his friend or member of the family well again.
Things are different whenever people are prepared to think not simply about themselves but of each other, particularly those whose needs are greater. The people of Gennesaret demonstrate a great concern for their fellow brethren, which is already an expression of the Kingdom, that Jesus came to establish.
Jesus could restore health. The action of Jesus and the concern of the people who cared could bring about an even more profound healing of the spirit of those sick. Hope and compassion opened the way to miracles through the person of Jesus. Where the sick are healed – is a place of joy and happiness – the Kingdom of God.
Mark emphasises a vital message: “All those who touched him were cured.” Indeed, we stand in need of healing. We live in a time when ‘touch’ is no longer appreciated for fear of contagion and in some places, for fear of causing scandals! The Gospel speaks of a touch that could heal – that is to touch the Lord.
The opportunities to touch the Lord are many. In the Eucharist, in the Word of God, in our prayer time and in the lives of all our brothers and sisters around us, Jesus makes himself present to us. But the Gospel reminds us that bringing people to the healing touch of the Lord is as important as personally touching him. Through acts of charity and mercy, we bring Jesus to the people around us. During the Chinese New Year last year, Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong was encouraging the faithful to take one step further to be near to someone in need, especially the elderly, the sick and the poor. Later he took time to visit the elderly, who were living alone in housing complexes in the City, bringing New Year’s gifts and praying with them.
Would I care to spare a little of my time for someone in need, visit him, see if they need my help, bring God’s love, and help them feel the healing, consoling touch of Jesus?
Intentions
– That the Church in its leaders and members may grow in love of nature and its Creator, admire more the work of God’s hands, and give him thanks and praise by respecting its harmony and letting it serve our happiness, we pray:
– That governments make great efforts to make people stop the destruction or plunder of natural resources, like forests that are the pride and riches of many nations in the third world, for paying national debts or private gain, we pray:
– That scientists and technologists may find ways to make deserts bloom again, to restore to the atmosphere the air which we can breathe, and to make our world a better place to live in, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God, our Father,
from the rising of the sun to its setting
let your faithful people celebrate
the holy sacrifice of Jesus your Son.
Let this be a living witness
that you are the Father of all
and that Jesus lived and died for all
to make us all one,
now and for ever. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
your Son Jesus invites all to his table,
however different we may be
in faces, character, personality, nationality.
May we dream and work with Jesus
for a new humanity everywhere
where we learn to encounter all people
in their multifaceted human dignity
and in the riches of their culture.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
What we are, our uniqueness and our power to love, come from God. May God give us eyes to admire him and a voice to thank him. May God bless you all, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!