Holy Martyr Callistratus and His Companions; Our Venerable Father Nilus, Founder and Hegumen of the Grottaferrata Monastery
Philippians 1:1-7; Luke 4:37-44
Read Luke 4:37-44
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today’s Gospel reading brings to our attention Jesus’ continuous salvific mission of bringing the Good News of the Kingdom of God to everyone, while also healing the sick and casting out many demons from those who were possessed.
These kinds of actions, as the Gospel relates, attracted many people to come to Jesus – “and the people sought him and came to him” (Lk 4:42). A natural reaction after all, since we all prefer to be in good physical health. But what about the well-being of the soul? For Jesus did not only heal the sick and cast out demons, but first and foremost proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God.
It is precisely the Good News of the Kingdom of God that primarily point towards the spiritual part of our being, namely the soul, which is immortal and is called to be eternally in the presence of God after this life.
It is important to take care of one’s body, however, the soul is the one that is forgotten about, ignored, neglected the most.
Saint Augustine managed to combine both needs of a person in the following manner: take care of your body as if you were going to live forever; and take care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow.