Readings
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Luke 4:38-44
Reflection
It’s as if Jesus’ healing power was held back in Nazareth, but in Capernaum, it poured out in full force. In Nazareth, familiarity diminished His power, but in Capernaum, there were no such barriers. He first healed Peter’s mother-in-law, and then went on to heal crowds of the sick and those tormented by demons.
A sobering thought: like the people of Nazareth, we have the ability to block miracles. We’ve probably all done it at some point—by filling the air with criticism, cynicism, or discouragement. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a dismissive look or a negative mindset that diminishes everything. Certain people create an atmosphere so negative that we shrink away—we hold back our stories, we play it safe. This is how human connections are weakened, and it’s also how faith is eroded. We often talk about “denying the faith,” as if words were the worst thing we could do. But we can do much worse. Words, at least, are clear. But through a look, our presence, or the atmosphere we create, we can silently and subtly undermine faith, sometimes without even realizing it.
In Jesus’ ministry, preaching and healing were intertwined, suggesting that all preaching should have a healing aspect. But what if no one feels particularly sick? Well, in today’s strange world, feeling completely comfortable might be a sign of illness. St. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for “acting like ordinary people” (1 Corinthians 3:3). In a way, all our words can serve as a prayer for healing—a plea to be freed from life-draining atmospheres and to help rebuild the broken body of Christ.
Giltus Mathias CP