13/01/2026
HOMILY | Wednesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Mark 1:29–39
Today’s Gospel gives us a beautiful glimpse into an entire day in the life of Jesus. It is one of the rare passages where we see His rhythm of ministry, His priority, and His heart.
Let us walk through it together.
1. JESUS ENTERS OUR HOMES
The Gospel begins with Jesus entering the house of Simon and Andrew. “He went to the house… and lifted her up.”
Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with fever. Jesus did not wait for her to come to Him. He went to her.
This is the heart of God: He visits us. He enters our ordinary life, our small houses, our messy situations.
Sometimes we feel unworthy: “Lord, ayaw lang sa akong balay. Wa ko kaandam. Hugaw pa kaayo.” But Jesus comes anyway because love goes where it is needed.
And notice this: He takes her by the hand and lifts her up.
Many of us come to Mass with our own “fevers”:
• fever of stress
• fever of fear
• fever of financial burdens
• fever of family conflict
• fever of guilt or sin
Jesus does not reject us. He extends His hand and lifts us up.
2. JESUS HEALS WITH COMPASSION, NOT PRESSURE
When the sun set, the whole town gathered at the door. People brought the sick, the possessed, the suffering.
What did Jesus do?
He healed “many.” He drove out demons. He listened to their pain.
He did not complain, He did not rush, He did not turn them away.
This is the Jesus we follow:
• compassionate, not irritated
• patient, not easily tired of us
• merciful, not judgmental
• willing to heal, not reluctant
Some of us think God gets tired of our repeated confessions, repeated sins, repeated problems. But the Gospel shows the opposite: Jesus never tires of healing.
3. JESUS SHOWS US THE SECRET: PRAYER
The next line is the most surprising. After a long, exhausting day: “Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus went to a lonely place to pray.”
Why? Because even Jesus needed silence. Even Jesus needed the Father. Even Jesus needed to recharge His heart.
Here is the lesson for us: We cannot serve well if we do not pray well.
We cannot face the world if we never enter silence.
We cannot be strong if we are never still before God.
Many of us try to live life with no prayer, no reflection, no silence, and no listening to God. Then we wonder why we are anxious, impatient, angry, burned out.
Jesus teaches us: Before facing crowds, face the Father.
FINAL WORDS
From Mark 1:29–39, Jesus offers us three invitations:
1. Let Jesus enter your house.
Your real life, your real struggles.
Do not hide your fever from Him.
2. Receive His healing in faith.
He wants to lift you up, not condemn you.
3. Imitate His rhythm: Pray first, then serve.
Make a little time for silence every day—5 minutes, 10 minutes, just to be with God. If Jesus needed prayer, how much more do we?
May this Gospel help us reorder our lives, deepen our devotion, and rediscover the peace that comes only from walking closely with the Lord.
