Wednesday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
When a baby is born it has already spent nine months literally connected to their mother. Mothers of course have a special relationship and we are learning once again that breastfeeding and skin to skin contact are essential for the baby to get the best start in life physically, mentally, and emotionally. Fathers are connected in different ways but especially through speaking to the baby in the womb. Once born the child recognizes the fathers voice. I even sang to my children when they were in the womb. I sang that song to them after they were born and it was stunning to me how much it calmed them.
Paul knew well the community in Corinth and the people knew his voice especially through the letters he wrote them. Paul also knew that the growing the church and the faith of the people was a process. His imagery in this reading is describing how the new Christians needed to understand how they are being fed. And of course so do we. Paul’s point is that though the Word of the Lord came to them through particular people, those people are not the object of worship. So while a particular priest, minister or preacher may on some level feed us through what they say and do; they are but an icon through which we must see the one who truly feeds us, the Holy Trinity.
The one feeds us, nurtures and sustains us also heals us. In the images from the gospel today for heals many and in the process even the demons come to recognize Jesus as the Son of God. Just as Jesus does not allow the demons to speak, he also does not allow the crowds to prevent him from living out his purpose, to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God. The scripture caused me to my expectations of God and consider how I might be trying to confine God’s purpose in my life and in the lives of the people around me. After all we all need fed and we are heart to be disciples of Christ, first and foremost.
"Lord, You made us for a definite purpose and You desire us to think, talk and act like Jesus. Guide us so that when we try to prevent You from working in our lives, you call us in a way that allows us to recognize your voice and to be calm faithful disciples. Help our hearts be open so that as you feed and heal us we like Peter’s mother-in-law, will wait upon You Lord."
- Deacon Michael Montgomery