This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
As so often happens, the first reading chosen for today’s liturgy sheds great light on today’s gospel.
The first reading tells us that, since he was coming to save, not angels, but human beings, the children of Abraham, Jesus Himself chose to take on flesh to save them through His own death in the flesh.
Then in the gospel, we see Jesus healing at a furious pace; many bring to him persons with afflictions, and he heals them all, after healing Simon’s mother-in-law of a fever.
After which, He went away to pray by Himself.
We may well consider the tenor of those intimate moments between Jesus and His Father, after a day of healing. From the perspective of the townspeople, Jesus was a boon from out of the blue–a wonder-worker with the power of God. It was all excitement, all upside.
But in the light of the first reading, Jesus knew that this boon came with a price. He knew that He would pay for each and every one of those healings with His own suffering and death. He knew that the price man had incurred through original sin was not blithely waved aside–for it had been freely chosen, and God is consistent in His homage for the independent choices of human freedom, with all their consequences.
Jesus had come in the flesh, and in the flesh He was healing the flesh of His brothers and sisters. But the healing would come at the price of the free offering of His own flesh.
How dearly He loves flesh and blood–so much so that, when referring to Himself, He favors the title “Son of Man” over “Son of God” (cf. e.g. Mt. 16:13 and many others). Ultimately, He makes His flesh “true food” and His blood “true drink” (Jn. 6:55) in the Eucharist.
He Has come in flesh and blood to redeem flesh and blood. But without any doubt, with every miraculous healing, He could feel coming the price He–true man, true flesh and blood–would have to pay.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Jesus’ self-offering was of infinite power and infinite sufficiency for the salvation of mankind. As St. Thomas Aquinas stated, even a single drop of the blood of God made Man was sufficient to rid the world completely of all evil. Yet, there is still so much evil in the world–because of the obstinate choices of human freedom. Ask Jesus how you can partner with Him to extend the effect of His saving power; how He would like you to help the weak freedom of your brothers and sisters to choose Him.
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