audio provided by the website www.vaticannews.va/it #gospel #gospeloftheday #gospeloftoday #gospeloflife #gospelofwednesday15january #gospelofwednesday15january2025commentedbypopefrancis #gospelofpopefrancistoday #gospelcommentedbypopefrancis #popefrancis #vaticannews Date15/01/2025 Wednesday of the first week of ordinary time Reading of the Day From the letter to the Hebrews Heb 2:14-18 Brothers and sisters: Since the children share in flesh and blood, Christ himself likewise shared in the same nature, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by fear of death. For he does not care for angels, but for the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every way, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself had suffered and been tested, he is able to help those who are being tested. Gospel of the Day From the Gospel according to Mark Mk 1:29-39 On leaving the synagogue, Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, and at once they told him about her. He came and took her by the hand and helped her up; the fever left her, and she began to serve them. When evening came, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed by demons. The whole city was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, but he did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him. Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. But Simon and those who were with him followed him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. Words of the Holy Father Today’s Gospel (see Mk 1:29-39) presents Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law and then of many other sick and suffering people who cling to him. That of Peter’s mother-in-law is the first physical healing recounted by Mark: the woman was in bed with a fever; Jesus’ attitude and gesture towards her are emblematic: “He came and took her by the hand and helped her up” (v. 31), the Evangelist notes. There is so much sweetness in this simple act, which seems almost natural: “The fever left her and she served them” (ibid.). Jesus’ healing power does not encounter any resistance; and the healed person resumes his normal life, immediately thinking of others and not of himself – and this is significant, it is a sign of true “health”! (…) From the beginning, then, Jesus shows his predilection for people suffering in body and spirit: it is a predilection of Jesus to draw close to people who suffer both in body and spirit. It is the predilection of the Father, which he incarnates and manifests with works and words. His disciples were eyewitnesses, they saw this and then they bore witness to it. But Jesus did not want them to be just spectators of his mission: he involved them, he sent them, he also gave them the power to heal the sick and cast out demons. And this has continued without interruption in the life of the Church, up to today. And this is important. Caring for the sick of all kinds is not an “optional activity” for the Church, no! It is not something accessory, no. Caring for the sick of all kinds is an integral part of the mission of the Church, as it was of that of Jesus. And this mission is to bring the tenderness of God to suffering humanity. (Angelus, Saint Peter's Square, February 7, 2021)