Thanksgiving and Healing

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our thankfulness for the relationships we have been blessed to share with family and friends.

Healing and Gratitude

In the Reading from the Letter to the Colossians, the author presents a Thanksgiving.

* [1:1–2] For the epistolary form used by Paul at the beginning of his letters, see note on Rom 1:1–7. On holy ones or “God’s people,” see note on Rom 1:7. Awareness of their calling helps this group to be faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, i.e., dedicated to the tasks implied in their calling.

* [1:3–8] On thanksgiving at the start of a letter, see note on Rom 1:8. The apostle, recalling his own prayers for them and the good report about them he has received (Col 1:3–4), congratulates the Colossians upon their acceptance of Christ and their faithful efforts to live the gospel (Col 3:6–8). To encourage them he mentions the success of the gospel elsewhere (Col 1:6) and assures them that his knowledge of their community is accurate, since he has been in personal contact with Epaphras (Col 1:7–8), who likely had evangelized Colossae and other cities in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor (cf. Col 4:12, 13; Phlm 23). On faith, love, and hope (Col 1:4, 5, 8), see note on 1 Cor 13:13; cf. 1 Thes 1:3; 5:8.

* [1:7] Epaphras: now with Paul but a Colossian, founder of the church there. (Colossians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 52 declares the righteous will flourish in the house of God.

* [Psalm 52] A condemnation of the powerful and arrogant (Ps 52:3–6), who bring down upon themselves God’s judgment (Ps 52:7). The just, those who trust in God alone, are gladdened and strengthened by the downfall of their traditional enemies (Ps 52:8–9).

* [52:10] Like an olive tree: the righteous will flourish in the house of God like a well-watered olive tree, cf. Ps 92:14; 128:3. (Psalms, PSALM 52 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke proclaims the Cure of Simon’s Mother-in-Law, some other Healings as Jesus Leaves Capernaum.

* [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.)

Suzanne Braddock is trying to find purpose in these “holy interruptions”, turning to find God’s design for her in the ever-surprising challenges of every day. 

In being present to the people and every day circumstances that are my gift from God lies my purpose.

A cartoon popular in the 50’s depicts a comedian or dancer on a stage frantically exercising what they thought  was their talent, only to be yanked off the stage by an unseen individual wielding a long pole with a hook at the end. Life can be like this. When I review my 83 years I can find the hand of God disguised as that holy interruption, that yanking off the stage of my plans, only to find a better, more purposeful way. Hopefully for my good and the good of others.

Like Peter’s mother, who was healed of her sickness and immediately rose and waited on those around her, may we respond to Christ’s healing presence in our lives by turning to serve. (Braddock, 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.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Colossians 1:1-8 comments that it’s easy for us to get blown off track by confusing teachings that don’t reflect the fullness of the gospel. These ideas can lead us away from our faith and our love for the Lord. We may even know friends or family members who have been taken in by such beliefs. But Paul shows us that the best way to counter these views is simply to bear witness to Jesus and the beauty of his salvation.

So let the beautiful passages in this letter settle deeply in your heart. Fix your attention on Jesus and the “hope reserved for you in heaven” (Colossians 1:5). This will deepen your understanding and help you share the glorious “reality” of Christ with the people around you.

“Jesus, let the truths of what you have done for me fill my heart and overflow to others!” (Meditation on Colossians 1:1-8, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the readings for today. Colossians may not be authored by Paul and similar to Ephesians is written in the person of Paul. The author has differences in style and theology from Paul. Thanksgiving was added to Greek letters and it gives thanks for faith vertical and horizontal. The Colossians are bearing fruit and growing. The comments are not critical like in Galatians. In the Gospel, Simon’s Mother in law is healed by Jesus' intervention. The details may indicate Luke's profession as a physician. Jesus is called “son of God” and as Luke is writing for a pagan audience, what the title means to Gentiles is quite different than to a Jewish audience. Luke notes that Jesus continues to teach in the synagogues of Judea (see comment above on the Gospel passage). 

Fr. Richard Rohr introduces Buddhist teacher Kaira Jewel Lingo who introduces the teaching “present moment, wonderful moment” from her tradition. The simple practice of being fully present can help alleviate suffering.

There’s tremendous freedom that can come from learning to turn towards all of it with an open heart, rather than pushing away … and fighting what we don’t think should happen…. There’s a certain amount of pain that we’re all going to have in our lives; that’s unavoidable. But whether or not we suffer on top of that pain is up to us. This teaching “present moment, wonderful moment” helps us to say that if we can dwell in the present moment and just be with this now, not project into the future … then we can bear it…. If we can stay with the present moment, … as hard as that may be, and take care of this present moment, then the next moment is a continuation of this moment, so we can also take care of that moment. (Rohr, n.d.)

We meditate on the healing we have known of the body and spirit in friends and family and recognize the fullness of life as the promise and reality of our connection with Jesus.

References

Braddock, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved September 3, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-3-2025 

Colossians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 3, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1?1 

Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 3, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?38 

Meditation on Colossians 1:1-8. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved September 3, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/09/03/1373415/ 

Psalms, PSALM 52 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 3, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/52?10 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC.org. Retrieved September 3, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/present-moment-wonderful-moment/ 

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 3, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=sep3 

Thanksgiving and Healing

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to give thanks for all the healing we have known in our community and resolve to follow the prompting of the Spirit to be a support to those in need.

Community Healing

The reading from the Letter to the Colossians opens with a Pauline thanks to God for the Colossians.

* [1:1–2] For the epistolary form used by Paul at the beginning of his letters, see note on Rom 1:1–7. On holy ones or “God’s people,” see note on Rom 1:7. Awareness of their calling helps this group to be faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, i.e., dedicated to the tasks implied in their calling.

* [1:3–8] On thanksgiving at the start of a letter, see note on Rom 1:8. The apostle, recalling his own prayers for them and the good report about them he has received (Col 1:3–4), congratulates the Colossians upon their acceptance of Christ and their faithful efforts to live the gospel (Col 3:6–8). To encourage them he mentions the success of the gospel elsewhere (Col 1:6) and assures them that his knowledge of their community is accurate, since he has been in personal contact with Epaphras (Col 1:7–8), who likely had evangelized Colossae and other cities in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor (cf. Col 4:12, 13; Phlm 23). On faith, love, and hope (Col 1:4, 5, 8), see note on 1 Cor 13:13; cf. 1 Thes 1:3; 5:8.

* [1:7] Epaphras: now with Paul but a Colossian, founder of the church there. (Colossians, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)

Psalm 52 declares Judgement on the Deceitful.

* [Psalm 52] A condemnation of the powerful and arrogant (Ps 52:3–6), who bring down upon themselves God’s judgment (Ps 52:7). The just, those who trust in God alone, are gladdened and strengthened by the downfall of their traditional enemies (Ps 52:8–9).

* [52:10] Like an olive tree: the righteous will flourish in the house of God like a well-watered olive tree, cf. Ps 92:14; 128:3. (Psalms, PSALM 52 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus heals at Simon’s House and preaches in the Synagogues.

* [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, n.d.)

Barbara Dilly asks, wouldn't it be great if we as individual Christians and particularly as members of Christian churches could be known by our faith in Christ Jesus in the way that Paul and Timothy heard about the brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae?

It seems that we should be about the same purpose for which Jesus was sent.  We must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God.  Like Jesus, we should heal the sick, feed the poor, care for the elderly, as well as teach and rebuke in the work of our churches.  Yet, it seems to me that this must all come out of a central calling to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God.  Any secular agency can take care of people’s earthly needs, but that is not enough to transform the world.  We should be known, not for how many programs we have, not for how big our church is and how beautiful is the artwork.  All these things are necessary and good, but they are not sufficient if we are not known for our faith in Christ Jesus and the love in the Spirit that we have for each other and all God’s people.  It isn’t enough if we don’t exhibit trust in the mercy of God to the extent that we work to bring glad tidings to the poor and proclaim liberty to the captives.  Otherwise, we are just another non-profit organization.  Our calling as Christians is greater.  We must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God! So, how are we known?  What do people say about us? (Dilly, 2023)

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.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 4:38-44 comments that through his death and resurrection, Jesus has made it possible for us to be closer to God than ever. God has “seated us . . . in the heavens in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Through Baptism, we have been made sons and daughters of God. And our heavenly Father loves it when his children come to him to pray for the people and situations on their hearts.

Remember, you are God’s beloved child, and he has poured out his Holy Spirit on you. Your prayers are more powerful than you might think! They could make the difference for someone who is poor, lonely, or suffering from illness. You can’t be certain of exactly how God will answer your prayers, of course. But you can be assured that no prayer is ever wasted.

“Lord, help me to approach you with faith and confidence and to know in my heart that you hear my every prayer!” (Meditation on Luke 4:38-44, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler refers to the Thanksgiving and the mention of Epaphras as Pauline elements in the letter but references to things not yet developed tend to the conclusion that the letter was authored by a disciple of Paul. In the ancient world, this writing in the name of another was quite acceptable. Friar Jude reminds us of the message of Luke in describing Jesus' decision to bring His message to all people.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the essence of the prophetic task is to articulate a vision of the common good that has the power to capture the imagination of the people as a goal worthy of struggle and sacrifice.

Deep mourning over the social conditions that make people poor may be the first step we non-poor can take to internalize the beatitudes: “Blessed are you who are now weeping; you shall laugh” [Luke 6:21]. Mourning implies a terrible sense of loss, of regret, an acknowledgment of the real, and a feeling of pain in the face of that reality. Weeping and mourning emerge from our affective side and are profoundly healthy emotions for those of us who are more privileged, who will never fully share the lot of those who are impoverished by the system that creates our wealth, but who at least can weep over the tragedy of human suffering. Emotions help describe us as whole people and, if joined with righteous indignation at the injustices that cause marginalization, can lead us toward a relinquishment of the power and privilege that maintain injustice, and toward a solidarity with those who are poor in their claim on justice. (Rohr, 2023)

We are thankful for our relationship with Christ through which we are gifted with the mission to live the Beatitudes in our community.

References

Colossians, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1?1 

Dilly, B. (2023, September 6). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/090623.html 

Luke, CHAPTER 4. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?38 

Meditation on Luke 4:38-44. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/09/06/776474/ 

Psalms, PSALM 52 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/52?10 

Rohr, R. (2023, September 6). The Call to Change Sides — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-call-to-change-sides-2023-09-06/ 

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 6, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=sep6