Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also

16 JANUARY (Mk 1,29-39)

The program of Jesus Christ prophesied by the Psalm is one of perfect obedience. He lives only to do the will of the Father. Charity is also governed by God in him.

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD. How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.” I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O LORD, You know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your loving kindness and Your truth from the great congregation. (cf. Psalm 40 (39) 18).

St. Paul attests us that Jesus’ obedience was of a total annihilation. Jesus annihilated himself up to be treated as a no man. He suffered a painful death in obedience. For this obedience he received a glory and an everlasting name.

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2,5-11).
Samuel also tells Saul that obedience is all even for a king. God is very pleased with nothing but a heart that is always ready to listen to his voice.

But Samuel said: “Does the Lord so delight in holocausts and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the Lord? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams. For a sin like divination is rebellion, and presumption is the crime of idolatry. Because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he, too, has rejected you as ruler.” (1Sam 15,22-23).

Peter wants Jesus to live a great charity, compassion, mercy. Jesus answers him that he can only live in obedience and listening to the voice of his Father.

On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Today Jesus teaches us that He cannot love disobeying his Father. Obedience is the law of his love. It is the Father who decides whom to love, how to love and when love. Love is God’s gift to be offered to man always according to His divine will. Jesus chooses the Father’s will. He chooses to love not by Peter’s heart, but according to the Father’s heart. In Him, obedience is the one and only rule of true, pure, divine love. True compassion, mercy, charity must never emanate from our hearts; always instead from the compassion, mercy and charity of the Father. The Father communicates His will and our obedience gives implementation.
Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us true obedience.