Daily Gospel Reflection for January 3, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

After John’s arrest, Jesus went to live in Capernaum.

“From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'”

The time had come.

He went all over Galilee teaching and curing people, the Gospel says, “…proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.” He healed every one brought to Him—those with diseases, those in pain, those who were possessed, lunatics and paralytics. He healed all of them the passage tells us. No wonder great crowds followed Him. He performed miracle after miracle with crowds of witnesses. And “His fame spread to all of Syria.”

Let’s not forget that these miracle stories were spread by word of mouth, no doubt witnesses telling others. Jesus continues to heal today. The sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick produce healing, as does the Eucharist.

The Catechism tells us, “Heal the sick!” (Mt 10:8) The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. She believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies. (CCC 1509)

But does Jesus still perform miracles today? Absolutely. Every canonization can only happen after two well-documented and scientifically inexplicable miracles.

Pope Francis recently told his audience a story of a miraculous answer to prayer in Argentina. He said, “That man, fighting with prayer, received the grace of Our Lady. Our Lady listened to him. And I saw this: prayer works miracles, because prayer goes directly to the heart of the tenderness of God, who cares for us like a father.”

Ponder:

Do we pray knowing that the Great Physician looks on us with tenderness and a desire to heal? What can we do to increase our faith?

Pray:

Oh Jesus, may we always remember that You are still with us, offering healing according to Your will. Have mercy on us and on all our loved ones.

Click to tweet:
He healed every one brought to him—those with diseases, those in pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics. He healed all of them, the passage tells us. #dailygospel