Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Mark (1: 29-39) in which Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law from a fever as well as many others who were unwell in the town. As we heard yesterday and, Fr Paul says, it still applies to today, Jesus is in Capernaum, which is a little fishing village on the edge of the Lake of Galilee and we are given a glimpse of his ministry in this place. It is a two-fold ministry – it is one of healing and one of prayer. Yesterday we heard Jesus healed the man with the unclean spirit and today we see a progression of healings take place.

First, Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law, then, as the day wears on and it is after sunset, Jesus heals all those who are brought to him. Fr Paul says from this we can see and understand that Jesus is really concerned about caring and supporting others. At the end of today’s Gospel, Jesus goes off to pray. Fr Paul says we need to understand that the source of all that Jesus does is his union with God.

The relationship Jesus has with his father, through prayer, is the source of all Jesus’s strength and compassion. Mindful that the source of all that Jesus does is his union with God, mindful that he would not be able to heal unless he had this union with his father in place, for our prayer and reflection today, Fr Paul asks, ‘How is my relationship with God at the moment?’