5th Sunday B, February 5, 2012

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME B

When all my family was together for Mom’s funeral nearly five years ago, as happens whenever families get together after being apart for awhile, the conversation naturally turned to reminiscing and remembering the past. At one point someone wanted to know how and when Mom and Dad met, and how my father from Pennsylvania happened to be dating a girl from Texas. Further questions followed quite naturally, like "Where did they get married?" "What did the do for a living?" And how did they come to be back in Pennsylvania for the start of their family and life together?"

It is natural for people to do what my family was doing – to want to know where things came from, or when and how something started. For married couples, questions like that often come from their children and grandchildren: "Mom and Dad, when did you two meet and what was it like?" "Grandma, how did you meet Grandpa?"

Even in church, many ask such questions. I hear them often:

- Where do we get the custom of making the sign of the cross with holy water when we enter a church?

- When did the bread we use at Mass look like the pressed white wafers we have today?

- When did the practice of priests not being married begin?

When did it all begin? Where did it all start? Natural questions, of course. We are naturally curious to know when and how something started. Knowing this type of information helps us to understand things, and to decide how it might affect us in our own behavior.

In today’s gospel from Mark, we hear of the end of the first day of Jesus’ public ministry. On that first day, Jesus "came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel [Mk 14b-15]. Then Jesus passed by the Sea of Galilee and called his first disciples Andrew and his brother Simon Peter, and James and John, the two sons of Zebedee the fisherman [Mk 1: 16-20]. Next Jesus took them to Capernaum, and they went into the synagogue where Jesus taught and cured a man possessed by an evil spirit [1:21-28]. And that brings us to the late afternoon of Jesus first day of public ministry. We hear in today’s gospel what happened next.

Jesus entered the home of Simon Peter and Andrew. It would be a natural thing to do. Simon Peter was from Capernaum. Likely he invited Jesus and his small band of followers to come to his home, get cleaned up and have something to eat. But, upon entering his home, there was a problem. Simon Peter’s mother-in-law was quite sick and in bed with a fever. For the Jews, this was fearful. Contagion was expected, and such an illness could be fatal.

Now, these men following Jesus into the house had only just met – and been impressed with – Jesus. So they must have been watching closely. Jesus, without saying a single word – walked over to the sick woman, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them [Mk 1:31].

Finally, after the sun had set, and Jesus was refreshed by food and drink, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, ... [Mk 32-34a].

What a busy first day of ministry Jesus had! How very much he accomplished on his initial day of bringing the Kingdom on God to the world!

Well, everything must start somewhere. The glory of Christianity which one day would flower throughout the world through wonderful acts of love and charity began on the very first day of Jesus’ public ministry. When did Jesus’ actions of love for us begin? When and where was the time when he showed us that we are to take care of our brothers and sisters? Natural questions to ask. Loving others, caring for the sick, helping the less fortunate – it had to begin somewhere. For Christ, it began immediately. From the very beginning, Jesus healed others. From the very first day, Jesus did not wait to be asked to help others. From the start, when Jesus saw someone in need, without a word, he cared for them.

Things always have to start somewhere with someone. How about you? Do you recall the time when, the place where, or the person whom you first reached out to in kindness and charity? Do you remember when your baptismal faith first changed your life from self-centeredness to other-centeredness?

If you don’t recall, don’t worry. You can do something for others today, and then start counting the memories from this very day. After all, it has to begin somewhere and sometime. Why not now, and why not you?