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reading of the letter to the Hebrews
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since children have flesh and blood in
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common Jesus also participated in the
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same condition so as to destroy with his
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death he who had the power of death that
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is the devil and free those who out of
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fear death they were subject to slavery
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all their lives for after all he did not
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come to occupy himself with the angel
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but with the descendants of Abraham
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therefore he had to become like his
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brothers in everything to become a
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merciful and trustworthy high priest in
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things pertaining to God in order to
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atone for the sins of the people for
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having himself suffered when he was
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tempted he is able to help those who now
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suffer Temptation word of the Lord thank
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God procl of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
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according to St Mark Glory To You Lord
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at that time Jesus left the synagogue
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and went with James and John to the
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house of Simon and Andrew Simon's
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mother-in-law was in bed with a fever
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and they soon told Jesus and he came
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over held her hand and helped her up
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then the fever disappeared and she began
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to serve them in the afternoon after
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Sunset they brought all the sick and
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those possessed by the devil to Jesus
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the entire city gathered in front of the
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house Jesus healed many people from
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various illnesses and cast out many
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demons and he didn't let the demons
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speak because they knew who he was early
1:45
in the morning when it was still dark
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Jesus got up and went to pray in a
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deserted Place Simon and his companions
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went looking for Jesus when they found
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him they said everyone is looking for
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you Jesus replied let's go to other
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places to the nearby Villages I must
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preach there too because that's why I
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came and he went throughout all Galilee
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preaching in their synagogues and
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casting out demons word of Salvation
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Lord my dear Brothers and Sisters in
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Christ as we reflect on today's readings
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I want to invite you into the scene of
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Mark's gospel imagine yourself in SEO
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and Andre's house it is an ordinary home
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like many we know where human warmth
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Care and Family Life intertwine with the
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challenges of everyday life Peter's
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mother-in-law is lying down feverish
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while Jesus the Divine guest enters and
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transforms the environment with his
2:53
presence as we read these passages we
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are reminded that Jesus is not just the
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distant Messiah but a god God who comes
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into our homes touches our pain and
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heals our hearts he meets us where we
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are in our illnesses in our sufferings
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and in our deepest needs in the gospel
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we see Jesus healing Peter's
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mother-in-law with a simple gesture he
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takes her by the hand and lifts her up
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this act teaches us a lot about the
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power of Christ's touch it not only
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heals physically but restores dignity
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and purpose Pedro's mother-in-law after
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being healed immediately begins to serve
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this service is a natural response to
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God's grace when we experience the
3:38
healing and Love Of Christ we are moved
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to serve others let's think about this
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for a moment how many times has God
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lifted us up in moments of weakness
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maybe it was a word of encouragement
3:50
from a friend a kind gesture from a
3:52
stranger or a moment of deep prayer when
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we felt his presence when God lifts us
3:57
up he also invites us to be instruments
4:00
of healing for others this scene of
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healing in Peter's house takes us back
4:04
to today's first reading from the letter
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to the Hebrews here we are reminded of
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something profoundly comforting Jesus
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made himself like us in everything
4:14
except sin he shared our Flesh and Blood
4:17
experienced our pains and suffered our
4:21
Temptations why so that he could be a
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merciful high priest able to intercede
4:26
for us and free us from the slavery of
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fear and death the image of Jesus as our
4:31
high priest is powerful imagine a
4:34
perfect mediator someone who understands
4:36
our weaknesses because he has
4:38
experienced them himself he is not a
4:40
distant judge but a compassionate
4:43
brother who holds our hand and leads us
4:45
to the father this truth should fill our
4:47
hearts with hope and confidence let's go
4:50
back to the gospel after healing Peter's
4:53
mother-in-law Jesus dedicates himself to
4:56
serving a crowd that brings their sick
4:58
and Afflicted he heals frees and
5:01
restores however what strikes me is what
5:04
happens at the beginning of the next day
5:07
before Dawn Jesus retreats to a deserted
5:10
place to pray even with all the demands
5:13
around him he recognizes the need to be
5:15
in communion with the father here is a
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precious lesson for us how often do we
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allow the hustle and bustle of Our Lives
5:23
to keep us from prayer life is full of
5:26
responsibilities but Jesus teaches us
5:28
that prayer is not not a luxury it is a
5:31
necessity it is in prayer that we find
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strength Clarity and Direction just as
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Jesus sought the father to renew his
5:39
strength we must also take refuge in
5:41
prayer especially in moments of
5:43
tiredness and doubt as we reflect on the
5:46
life of Jesus we realize that his
5:48
ministry is a perfect balance between
5:50
action and contemplation he heals and
5:53
serves but also withdraws to be alone
5:56
with the father this harmony challenges
5:59
us to find find a similar balance in our
6:01
lives we are called to work for the
6:03
kingdom of God but also to find time to
6:06
replenish ourselves spiritually I want
6:08
to share with you a story that
6:10
illustrates this point a lumberjack was
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once hired to cut down trees in a forest
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in the early days he cut down a lot of
6:18
trees But as time passed his
6:21
productivity decreased he became
6:23
frustrated as he worked more and more
6:25
but cut less one day a friend asked him
6:29
have have you been sharpening your axe
6:31
the wood cutter replied no I don't have
6:34
time for that I'm too busy cutting down
6:37
trees the friend then said If you don't
6:40
sharpen your axe the work will become
6:42
more and more difficult just as the wood
6:44
cutter needed to sharpen his axe we need
6:47
to sharpen our souls through prayer and
6:49
communion with god without this we run
6:52
the risk of burning out and losing sight
6:54
of our purpose today's readings offer us
6:57
three clear invitations
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accept Christ's healing and allow him to
7:02
lift us up like Peter's mother-in-law we
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are called to receive his grace with
7:06
gratitude and respond with service to
7:09
others what areas of Our Lives need the
7:11
healing touch of Jesus are we willing to
7:14
let ourselves be lifted up by him
7:17
recognize Jesus Humanity as a sign of
7:20
his closeness to us he knows our
7:22
struggles because he has been through
7:24
them when we Face Temptation or hardship
7:27
we can remember that we are not alone
7:30
we have a high priest who intercedes for
7:32
us and strengthens us balancing action
7:35
and contemplation in our lives just as
7:38
Jesus dedicated time to prayer we should
7:41
also seek moments of silence and
7:43
communion with God what practical steps
7:45
can we take to prioritize prayer in our
7:48
daily lives finally I want to encourage
7:51
each of you to reflect on how you can be
7:53
instruments of healing in the world we
7:55
live in a time when many people are hurt
7:58
physically and spiritually TR we can be
8:00
the Hands of Christ touching lives with
8:03
compassion and love may we like Jesus
8:07
enter the homes of those around us their
8:10
lives their hearts and bring the healing
8:12
presence of God let us humbly ask today
8:15
that the Lord renew our strength and
8:17
enable us to live in a way that
8:19
glorifies his name May our prayer be
8:22
like Jesus deep sincere and
8:25
transformative May Our Lives be a
8:27
reflection of his mercy and love love
8:30
and may we every day rise up as lights
8:33
in the world radiating the grace we have
8:45
amen St Michael the Archangel defend Us
8:48
in battle be our protection against the
8:51
wickedness and snares of the devil may
8:54
God rebuke him we humbly pray and do
8:57
thou o Prince of the heaven L host by
9:00
the power of God cast into hell Satan
9:04
and all the evil spirits who prowl
9:06
throughout the world seeking the ruin of
