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 

Division and Healing

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek healing of our divisions and disagreements in the transformation that Jesus invites us to accept.

Building Unity

In the reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul comments on Divisions in the Corinthian Church.

* [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).

* [3:5–4:5] The Corinthians tend to evaluate their leaders by the criteria of human wisdom and to exaggerate their importance. Paul views the role of the apostles in the light of his theology of spiritual gifts (cf. 1 Cor 12–14, where the charism of the apostle heads the lists). The essential aspects of all spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:4–6 presents them as gifts of grace, as services, and as modes of activity) are exemplified by the apostolate, which is a gift of grace (1 Cor 3:10) through which God works (1 Cor 3:9) and a form of service (1 Cor 3:5) for the common good (elsewhere expressed by the verb “build up,” suggested here by the image of the building, 1 Cor 3:9). The apostles serve the church, but their accountability is to God and to Christ (1 Cor 4:1–5). (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.

* [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 describes healings at Simon’s House and Jesus Preaching 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 | USCCB, n.d.)

Robby Francis reminds us that our call is to embody the gospel in every aspect of our lives. Each of our daily interactions is a chance to labor in God’s kingdom.

It can be all too easy to feel as though we’re not doing enough for God, especially when we compare ourselves to the saints or those whose deeds are widely recognized. We may think that our efforts are insignificant or unnoticed. But often, it is in the daily, seemingly small acts—those seeds we plant—that have the most profound impact. The way we treat others, listen to them, and offer encouragement can serve as powerful examples of what it means to live our faith. These moments, no less than the grander ones, are opportunities to be co-workers with God, participating in the ongoing work of building His kingdom. (Francis, 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 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 comments that any growth in the Spirit they were experiencing came about because they had cooperated with the Lord, not because any one person had made it happen.

Acknowledging God as the source of your growth takes a good deal of pressure off yourself! Instead of relying solely on your own efforts, you can trust that God will do more than you could ever accomplish on your own. All he asks is that you put forth your best effort to stay close to him and to do his will; he will do the rest.

So if you ever feel that you are struggling to follow Jesus, take heart! Christ is in you, and he can do so much more than you could ever ask for or imagine!

“Jesus, help me to trust that you will never stop deepening my faith as I keep turning to you.” (Meditation on 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler cites the response of Paul to the divisions in Corinth as an indication that such a situation shows a lack of real inspiration by the Spirit. The word used for healing Simon’s mother indicates a serious fever and may support the understanding that Luke was a physician. Friar Jude reminds us that demons, as spiritual creatures, knew Jesus as Messiah, Son Of God. We are called to spread Jesus' message as a gift not as an imposition.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author bell hooks (1952–2021) who describes how her childhood in the Kentucky hills instructed her in the spiritual lesson of interbeing.

That sense of interbeing was once intimately understood by black folks in the agrarian South. Nowadays it is only those who maintain our bonds to the land, to nature, who keep our vows of living in harmony with the environment, who draw spiritual strength from nature…. It is nature that reminds time and time again that “this too will pass.” To look upon a tree, or a hilly waterfall, that has stood the test of time can renew the spirit. To watch plants rise from the earth with no special tending reawakens our sense of awe and wonder. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We sometimes lose our appreciation of the role of Christ acting through the Spirit in creating and growing our relationship with the Divine by misplacing the credit for our growth on our efforts or our connection with particular human organizations. 

References

Francis, R. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/090424.html 

Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4? 

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/09/04/1066447/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/3? 

Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?12 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Place of Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-place-of-contemplation/ 

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 4, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=sep4