Immediately getting up, the woman began to serve them (Luke 4:38-44)
Biblical reflections by Mauro Leonardi*, priest and writer
If often Jesus, after a moment of intimate and solitary dialogue with the Father and after having prayed to him, immediately communicates to many the love that he himself has matured and conceived in prayer, this time in a moment of prayer and presence in a place of public worship, just like any other person, follows a "minor key" miracle, performed in the secrecy of a friend's house, in favor of a woman ill due to a simple flu: with this miracle Jesus tells us that holiness it is not an inaccessible path, made of gestures sensational or extreme. More often it is a daily journey, made up of ordinary acts of charity possible for each of us.
From the Gospel according to Luke 4:38-44
At that time, Jesus left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Simon's mother-in-law was in the grip of a great fever and they prayed to him for her. Leaning over her, he ordered the fever, and the fever left her. Getting up instantly, the woman began to serve them. At sunset, all those who had sick people suffering from illnesses of any kind brought them to him. And he, laying his hands on each one, healed them. Demons came out of many shouting: "You are the Son of God!". But he threatened them and would not let them speak, because they knew that it was the Christ. At daybreak he went out and went to a deserted place. But the crowds were looking for him, they overtook him and wanted to hold him so that he would not go away from them. However, he said: «I must also announce the kingdom of God to the other cities; this is why I was sent." And he went preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
* Mauro Leonardi (Como 1959) has been a priest since 29 May 1988 and has lived in Rome since then. He spends many hours of his day as a priest and prefers building bridges rather than raising walls. For years he has been writing stories, articles, essays and books that revolve around the relationship between man and God. Author of the blog Like Jesus. Abelis (Lindau) is his latest novel. The volunteers of the Gionata Project thank him for wanting to share these reflections on the Word with us.
