Lectio Divina – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary time

Attributed to St. John Chrysostom: But the disciples, because they knew that they were to receive his goodness, without waiting for the evening, asked that Peter’s mother should be healed.

The Venerable Bede (672/3-735): The health which is conferred at the command of the Lord, returns at once entire, accompanied with such strength that she is able to minister to those of whose help she had before stood in need.

The Venerable Bede (672/3-735): In a mystical sense, the setting of the sun signifies the suffering and death of Him, who said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5) And when the sun was going down, more demoniacs and sick persons were healed than before: because while He lived in the flesh for a time he taught a few Jews, but he has transmitted the gifts of faith and health to all the Gentiles throughout the world. Again, mystically if by the setting of the sun, the death of the Saviour is intended, why should not His resurrection be intended by the returning dawn? For by its clear light, He went far into the wilderness of the Gentiles, and there continued praying in the person of His faithful disciples.

Theophylact of Ochrid (1055-1107): After that the Lord had cured the sick, He departed into a desert place. By this He taught us not to do any thing for the sake of appearance, but if we do any good, not to proclaim it openly. For He shows to us that we ought to attribute to God whatever we do well, and to say to Him, “Every good gift comes down from above,” (James 1:17) from Thee.

Attributed to St. John Chrysostom: In which word, He manifests the mystery of His “emptying himself,” (cf. Phil. 2:7-8) that is, of His incarnation, and the sovereignty of His divine nature, in that He here asserts, that He came willingly into the world. Luke however says, “To this end was I sent,” proclaiming the good pleasure of God the Father concerning the Incarnation of the Son.