Gospel for September 2, 2015 (Tuesday)

Lk 4:38-44

After Jesus left the synagogues, he entered the house of Simon, Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her.  He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her.  She got up immediately and waited on them.  At sunset, all people who had been sick with various diseases were brought to him.  He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.  And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God."  But he rebuked and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah.

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.  The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them.  But he said to them, "To the other towns I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent."  And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

The Word in other words

An eminent baby specialist (pediatrician) had a standard treatment for frail newborn babies who failed to gain weight.  When he came to see the baby during his rounds in the hospital, he would invariably scrawl on the baby's chart and give the nurse the following prescription: "This baby should be loved (fondled, hugged, massaged) every three hours.

Francis McNutt, in  New York University study of nurses, found out how effective are those nurses who lay their hands lovingly on patients with the intention of healing them.  These patients are found to recover more rapidly.  McNutt surmises that loving, caring people communicate life-giving power to sick bodies through the healing touch of their hands.

            - Fr. Fred Mislang, SVD (Villa Cristo Rey, CKMS, QC)