Yesterday, we heard about Jesus healing a man possessed by an unclean spirit in the synagogue. Today, we hear about Jesus healing the mother-in-law of Simon Peter upon leaving the synagogue, as she was sick with a fever. What I love about this story is that in response to her healing, the mother-in-law immediately waits on Jesus and the other disciples. They don’t even give the poor woman time to rest!
God inspires us to service as we see in today’s Gospel. The word of God inspired so many of the missionaries of the Church to spread this word throughout the world and to serve him in so many different ways. Today is the feast day of St Arnold Janssen, a parish priest from Germany who endured the persecutions of the Catholic Church under Otto von Bismarck, the leader of that country at that time. Janssen fled to the Netherlands, where he proposed sending Germany priests all over the world as missionaries, which eventually led to the founding of the Society of the Divine Word missionaries. This order of priests was approved by the Vatican in 1901, and shortly thereafter they came to the United States, where they founded many parishes serving the African American community in our state of Mississippi. Priests from that order still serve in our diocese in towns such as Jackson, Indianola, Vicksburg, Greenville, Shaw, and Shelby.
My home parish here in Mississippi is Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greenville, which was founded as an SVD parish and where SVD priests still serve the people of God today. The story of St Arnold Jenssen and the founding of the Society of the Divine Word shows us that even in the face persecution, we can find ways to spread God’s word and keep it alive and vital.
May the enthusiasm and vigor of Arnold Janssen and the other missionaries of our faith help serve as an inspiration to us all to bring the healing power of Christ’s Good News to others. May God’s Holy Word continue to inspire us and motivate us in our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment