Medicus | Physician

“Doubtless you will tell me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself!" – Luke 4: 23.

Pexels.com

We can learn more about Jesus's actions and behavior in today's reading. For example, we can observe how He was able to enter the synagogues with his reading of the Prophet Isaiah. Everyone was fully focused on His words and His grace upon explaining the Scriptures.

But Jesus was also brave. He rebuked the people of his hometown by saying '"Truly I tell you; no prophet is accepted in his hometown." As He told them about Elijah's time, how only one woman from Sidon was saved, and from the time of Elisha, a foreigner was saved. These prophets were only sent to them, to explain that God's will and blessing happened to those whom the people from the synagogue saw as unworthy.

We could also appreciate Jesus's ministry in Capernaum where He once again taught the people. People were amazed at His teaching because His words had authority. In the same synagogue in Capernaum, we see one of the very first miracles of Jesus. An exorcism of a man in the synagogue. Once more, we could perceive how His authority and Power would drive the demon away from the man's body. Even more so, we would see Him heal the sick, make more miracles, and save many. Until He was done, our Lord went to a solitary place.

While He was sought by the people and tried to make Him stay, He was steadfast in His idea of preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God, to go to the other towns, and keep preaching in them and the synagogues.

We should strive to be more like Christ. Charitable, yet able to rebuke others when necessary. Patient, loving and always acting with the Holy Spirit in us.

Reflection on Luke 4:20-44 by Christobal Alvarez

(Listen to podcast here)

In domum figuli (Jer 18:3)

Prophets were people who listened to the word of God carefully. Their ears were attentive to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit. Jeremiah was one of them. When he heard the message, he followed the orders of the Lord. 

The Lord told him that human life is similar to potter's clay. How fragile is this life? Today one lives and tomorrow one can die. When we think about it, we feel depressed and sorry. But the good news is that all of us are in the potter's hands. The potter is our Lord who is working on us continually. He never gives up. He is always ready to start afresh and work on us again. 

We just need to let the Holy Spirit work in our souls. For sure, miracles could happen in our lives if only we allow God to lead us. 

The problem starts if we forget about our relationship with the Lord and try to live on our own. Then our life can be broken easily. 

This new day, let us give thanks to the Lord for the gift of life. Let us open our souls for the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us invite the almighty to renew our whole being, body and mind, emotions, and thoughts. May God cleanse us from our weaknesses, sins, diseases, and all kinds of wounds. 

We do believe that the is powerful and mighty. Overall, he is our Creator. We do trust in his words as prophet Jeremiah. Accordingly, we ask God to take us in his arms, embrace us with his grace, and make miracles in our lives. We beg him in Jesus' name. Amen. 

By Fr. Józef Trzebuniak, SVD.

Tempus pariendi (Lk. 1:57)

Every 24th of June, Catholics usually celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Holy Gospel tells us about the joyful moment when John was born and also how his father Zechariah gave a name to John. He was named  John/ Yohan, which in Hebrew means “God is gracious”.  And indeed, God was gracious to John’s parents by giving them a child in their old age. They could not bear child, but with God’s blessing, they were worthy to become parents of a great prophet of God. John is unique among God’s prophets because when he was in his mother’s womb, he gave witness to Jesus already as the Son of God by leaping at the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb.

John became a great prophet of God because of his humility and fidelity in carrying out the mission of God that God had entrusted to him. We could see his humility clearly when some people thought that he was the Messiah,  he right away clarified that he was just a man who prepared the way for the Messiah. 

On this red-letter day, the day of Nativity of John the Baptist; we ask God to bless us so that we can have humility like St. John the Baptist. Also,  we may have a joyful heart in bearing witness to Jesus Christ, our Lord. Keep in our mind that every day and every time, God is always gracious to us. Amen.

By Fr Risco Batbual, SVD