September 2, 2026
Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Lk 4:38-44

Today is Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time. The passage from the Holy Gospel according to Luke continues to present to us Jesus’ deeds in Capernaum. I would like to select two scenes that deeply moved me for this meditation.

First scene: After Jesus left the synagogue, He entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they interceded with Jesus for her. He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She immediately got up and began to serve them (cf. Lk 4:38-39).

When participating in Sunday Mass, we often overlook our brothers and sisters who, due to illness, cannot join us in the celebration. Like Simon’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a high fever (cf. Lk 4:38), they are in urgent need of our help, our prayers, and our bringing Jesus to them. Today, in response to their plea, Jesus comes to the side of Simon’s mother-in-law (cf. Lk 4:39). Likewise, when we pray to Him, He is always by our side, always ready, so that when we ask Him, He may immediately provide the help we urgently need.

Second scene: At sunset, all those who had sick people with various serious diseases brought them to Him. He laid His hands on each of them and healed them. Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that He was the Christ (cf. Lk 4:40-41).

Having witnessed the miracle Jesus performed in Simon’s house, the crowd regarded Him as a man possessing extraordinary power. Therefore, they brought those suffering from incurable diseases to Jesus, hoping that He would heal them as well. Jesus laid His hands on them, allowing them to experience God’s merciful love, and set free those who were oppressed by demons.

Today, through the reception of Baptism and the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, we have become children of the Heavenly Father. We have the duty and obligation to bring those who are afflicted by demons and illnesses to Jesus, so that He may also heal their diseases, free them from all forms of bondage, and, by God’s mercy, attain salvation.

God of might, giver of every good gift, put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, you may nurture in us what is good and, by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica