The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, on 2 Sept, invite us to reflect on the events of healing we have experienced and the connection to our faith.
The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians compares Spiritual people and fleshly people.
* [3:1–4] The Corinthians desire a sort of wisdom dialogue or colloquy with Paul; they are looking for solid, adult food, and he appears to disappoint their expectations. Paul counters: if such a dialogue has not yet taken place, the reason is that they are still at an immature stage of development (cf. 1 Cor 2:6).
* [3:1] Spiritual people…fleshly people: Paul employs two clusters of concepts and terms to distinguish what later theology will call the “natural” and the “supernatural.” (1) The natural person (1 Cor 2:14) is one whose existence, perceptions, and behavior are determined by purely natural principles, the psychē (1 Cor 2:14) and the sarx (flesh, a biblical term that connotes creatureliness, 1 Cor 3:1, 3). Such persons are only infants (1 Cor 3:1); they remain on a purely human level (anthrōpoi, 1 Cor 3:4). (2) On the other hand, they are called to be animated by a higher principle, the pneuma, God’s spirit. They are to become spiritual (pneumatikoi, 1 Cor 3:1) and mature (1 Cor 2:6) in their perceptions and behavior (cf. Gal 5:16–26). The culmination of existence in the Spirit is described in 1 Cor 15:44–49.
* [3:3–4] Jealousy, rivalry, and divisions in the community are symptoms of their arrested development; they reveal the immaturity both of their self-understanding (1 Cor 3:4) and of the judgments about their apostles (1 Cor 3:21). (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 33 praises God’s choosing human beings as special.
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents the Cure of Simon’s Mother-in-Law and Other Healings as Jesus Leaves Capernaum.
* [4:31–44] The next several incidents in Jesus’ ministry take place in Capernaum and are based on Luke’s source, Mk 1:21–39. To the previous portrait of Jesus as prophet (Lk 4:16–30) they now add a presentation of him as teacher (Lk 4:31–32), exorcist (Lk 4:32–37, 41), healer (Lk 4:38–40), and proclaimer of God’s kingdom (Lk 4:43).
* [4:34] What have you to do with us?: see note on Jn 2:4. Have you come to destroy us?: the question reflects the current belief that before the day of the Lord control over humanity would be wrested from the evil spirits, evil destroyed, and God’s authority over humanity reestablished. The synoptic gospel tradition presents Jesus carrying out this task.
* [4:38] The house of Simon: because of Luke’s arrangement of material, the reader has not yet been introduced to Simon (cf. Mk 1:16–18, 29–31). Situated as it is before the call of Simon (Lk 5:1–11), it helps the reader to understand Simon’s eagerness to do what Jesus says (Lk 5:5) and to follow him (Lk 5:11).
* [4:41] They knew that he was the Messiah: that is, the Christ (see note on Lk 2:11).
* [4:42] They tried to prevent him from leaving them: the reaction of these strangers in Capernaum is presented in contrast to the reactions of those in his hometown who rejected him (Lk 4:28–30).
* [4:44] In the synagogues of Judea: instead of Judea, which is the best reading of the manuscript tradition, the Byzantine text tradition and other manuscripts read “Galilee,” a reading that harmonizes Luke with Mt 4:23 and Mk 1:39. Up to this point Luke has spoken only of a ministry of Jesus in Galilee. Luke may be using Judea to refer to the land of Israel, the territory of the Jews, and not to a specific portion of it. (Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rev. Rashmi Fernando, SJ, comments that we can spend ourselves responding to every demand and eventually forget to ask: What is God actually asking of me? Perhaps, no matter how busy His day was, Jesus withdrew to a lonely place early in the morning, just to ask this question himself; to return to the source before He continues His mission. This solitude is not an escape from reality or a getaway from work. It was what enabled Him to continue His work more faithfully.
We, too, need those lonely places—quiet times of the day, Examen, silent retreats, etc. Not necessarily physical places, but moments of silence where we step away from the noises of this world to listen to the voice of God. Because sometimes the most faithful thing is not saying “yes” to everything, but discerning to say, “I must go on.” Hence, let us ask ourselves:
Where in my life have I become so busy “being needed” that I have forgotten to listen to what God is actually asking of me?
What “lonely place” do I need to return to so that I can hear God’s voice beneath the many voices competing for my attention?
What is God inviting me to let go of—or to move beyond—so that I can more faithfully continue the mission entrusted to me? (Fernando, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes Jesus the Chief Physician, by Jerome (347-420 AD)
"'Now Simon's mother-in-law was kept in her bed sick with a fever.' May Christ come to our house and enter in and by his command cure the fever of our sins. Each one of us is sick with a fever. Whenever I give way to anger, I have a fever. There are as many fevers as there are faults and vices. Let us beg the apostles to intercede for us with Jesus, that he may come to us and touch our hand. If he does so, at once our fever is gone. He is an excellent physician and truly the chief Physician. Moses is a physician. Isaiah is a physician. All the saints are physicians, but he is the chief Physician." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK 75.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the readings for today. Paul speaks of the earthly revelation of Incarnate Jesus that brings Divisions even if the Holy Spirit brings unity. He speaks of them still being in the flesh of our concupiscence. Paul planted and Apollos watered in Baptism and Jesus and Christ caused the growth. Priests and deacons are not the only ministers at this time. We were built in service and in Luke, we hear how Jesus healed Peter’s Mother-in-Law. The legend of Luke as a physician is supported by the fever being described in some detail. The response to love is wishing to share it. "Son of God” as the title for hero was usual in Luke’s time but the Evangelist means the only begotten Son of God. Jesus prays before continuing His ministry. Friar Jude asks us to consider “How am I doing Christ's work or is it my agenda? Friar Jude identifies our need to get our heads in the right place.
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 4:38-44 that the grace of God poured into our lives calls forth a response from us. His love begets love in us, and we find joy in laboring alongside our Lord.
Maybe your physical healing gives you an opening to tell others about God’s power at work today. Or maybe your newfound freedom over some sin is a sign to your family that God can change their lives, too. Or maybe the gift of quiet self-control helps you to show the love of Jesus to other people. No matter how the Lord has poured his grace out on you, ask him to help you respond, to start out on a new path of loving service and testimony.
“Lord, I believe you have worked in my life for a purpose. So how can I serve you today?” (Meditation on Luke 4:38-44, n.d.)
Father Richard Rohr introduces Sister Joan Chittister, while speaking to the network Women’s Ordination Worldwide, evokes a vision of Christian discipleship that requires great courage.
True discipleship is … a way of living that is not political but which has serious political implications…. The disciple takes public issue with the values of a world that advantages only those who are already advantaged…. It takes umbrage at systems that are more bent on keeping improper people out of them than they are in welcoming all people into them. True discipleship takes the side always, always, always of the poor, the minority, the outcast, the reviled, the rejected, the other, despite the power of the rich and powerful. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ask the Spirit to enkindle in us the fire of love we need to have as we follow Christ in our daily journey.
References
Fernando, R. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved September 2, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-2-2026
Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?
Meditation on Luke 4:38-44. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved September 2, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/09/02/1661265/
1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/3?
Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?12
Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Discipleship of Equals. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 2, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-discipleship-of-equals/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Laid His Hands on Every One and Healed Them. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 2, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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