Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever,
and they interceded with him about her.
In response to the faith they expressed through intercession Jesus restored Simon's mother-in-law to wholeness, health, and freedom. It was just one example of what was possible in virtue of the authority of his word. It didn't matter if Jesus was speaking to a demon, a storm, or a fever. When he rebuked it, it had no choice but to obey. But the result was not merely the externally evident healing. As usual there was an inner transformation as well. Simon's mother-in-law did not merely get up, she arose, as though by resurrection. She did not merely resume everything on which she must have fallen behind while ill. No, she immediately directed her energies toward Jesus and his companions, and therefore toward the Kingdom. The power of Jesus did not just leave her with one fewer problem. It did not only empty her of something negative. Rather, it filled her with new life, renewed spiritual vigor.
At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him.
We can imagine that as more and more transformed souls came to surround Jesus, more people witnessed the difference he could make, and came to seek his help themselves. Of course they were probably mainly aware of the external aspect of what happened in cases like that of Simon's mother-in-law. She had a fever and now was healthy. Another had been possessed and was now free. The demons tried to spin the public image of Jesus, limiting the way people saw him, trying to control the damage as the kingdom of darkness was gradually driven back. But Jesus would not let himself be defined by demons. He would not shrink from his mission to heal just because he might be misunderstood to be only a worker of wonders, and not, as he in fact most truly was, a savior. His works pointed inexorably to his true identity as the people transformed by them discovered, and the demons couldn't spoil it.
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
There were a virtually unlimited number of people with real needs that they desired Jesus to address. But even so, even though they were real and important, it was even more important for Jesus to take time alone in prayer, to remain grounded in his relationship with the Father. At the very least this served as an example for future disciples who could easily become disconnected and disoriented from the source of their mission if they only spent time in service but not in prayer. This was why even such active and untiring workers of mercy as Mother Theresa always spoke of the still greater need for times of prayer with Jesus as the basis for all else they did.
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."
The crowds must have thought that his purpose was primarily to heal. They certainly desired to put him to good use in that role. They would likely have been content for him to remain with them forever, addressing each bruise, or sprained ankle, or strained relationship as they arose, keeping all of them forever comfortable. But Jesus was about more than merely acting as a sedative for the problems of a fallen world. He was about undermining the fallen aspect of the world itself, of bringing about salvation. To do this, preaching was of greater importance than healing. And this meant that once people had heard the message and seen the accompanying signs it was time to move on to those who had not yet seen. It was not primarily external and ultimately temporary things Jesus came to accomplish. He came to establish a kingdom with no more sin, sorrow, or death. Such was the authority of his words that he was the only one who could do so. It was thus urgent for his words to be heard as far and wide as possible.
Perhaps the lesson for us this morning is to not be content with the current level of penetration of the Gospel into the world. We tend to establish programs and fall into a routine of addressing only those who already know, more or less, what Jesus taught. We forget that, even if many in our society believe they know the message of Jesus, they do not know it truly. We too have been sent to make sure the whole world hears the Good News, not just those closest and most interested. This does not mean we are all called to go to foreign lands, though perhaps more of us are than actually go. It definitely means that we must at least support the idea of evangelization with our prayers and our resources and our appreciation for those who do make such journeys. But in addition to this, there are probably also places nearer to whom where the light of the Gospel is not now shining, places where we ourselves could be the light. Let's stay awake, watching for such places. And let us be courageous if and when we find them.
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