Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 22nd Week in Ordinary time – Wednesday – Luke 4:38-44

After casting a demon out of a man in the synagogue of Capernaum on the Sabbath, Peter invites Jesus to his home to eat and spend the night. Peter’s mother-in-law’s  high fever caused her suffering and also presented a practical problems: her help was needed to feed a large number of people and her fever may have caused fear of contagion among the guests.

Simon asks Jesus to help his ill mother-in-law. Jesus stands over her and, just as He had rebuked the demon, He rebukes the fever; she is miraculously healed and immediately serves them. As the sun sets, large numbers of the desperately ill people crowd around Peter’s house; Christ lays His hands on every sick or demon-possessed person and heals them. Christ silences the demons who proclaim that He is the “Son of God”, further evidence of His supernatural power.

After working late into the night to heal all who came to Him, Christ departs early in the morning to a deserted place, perhaps to pray as was His practice. Though people follow Him and attempt to stop Him from leaving, Christ departs to continue His mission to preach in Judea.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God and Divine Physician, Christ has dominion over Creation with the knowledge and power to instantly heal every disease and to cast out demons. Son of Man, Christ is the most robust of men, able to work long hours with little sleep. Divine King, Christ is relentless in His effort to announce His Kingdom.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) High fevers can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, heat exhaustion or other serious causes (e.g. tumors, etc.) and take several days or weeks to subside with modern treatment.  Marvel at Christ’s ability to instantaneously heal a severe fever with a word and return Peter’s mother-in-law to robust health.

2) Consistent with Christ’s eventual pronouncement of Peter as the first leader (pope) of Christ’s Catholic Church, Christ honors Peter by residing at Peter’s house; Peter’s house will be Christ’s Galilean base for His ministry. Pray, asking for St. Peter’s intercession to help the Church evangelize the great number of suffering souls.

3) Most men put their exclusive trust in modern medicine for healing illnesses; while prudent, Catholic men should first and persistently seek Christ’s healing for all illnesses, routine and severe. Begin to practice spontaneous prayer when you encounter illness and keep a prayer list, asking for Christ to heal those, consistent with His Will for them.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Glorious Mysteries

Daily Devotion – Saint Joseph

Virtue of the Day – Temperance

Corporal Work of Mercy – To visit the imprisoned

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To comfort the sorrowful