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 He then  preached  in  the  synagogues  of  Galilee:  “The  time is accomplished,  and  the  kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand  ; repent  and believe the  Gospel.”  He  healed  all  manner  of  diseases;  and  the fame of  His  power  and  holiness  spread  over  all  the  country,  and people came  from  far  and  near  to  see  and  hear  Him.

The Divinity  of  our  Lord.  The  astounding  miracles  which  Jesus wrought, in  the  presence  of  so  many  people,  are  a proof  of  His  Divine Omnipotence. He took  the  death-stricken  mother-in-law  of  Peter  by the  hand,  and  immediately  she  got  up  well  and  strong. He laid  His hand on  the  sick  who  were  brought  to  Him  in  front  of  Peter’s  house, and at  once  they  were  cured. He drove  the  devils  out  of  those  whom they possessed,  and  imposed  silence  on  them  by  His  word. “What is this?”  asked  the  awe-struck  people;  “that  He  commandeth  even  the unclean spirits  and  they  go  out!”  This  was  a proof  that  Jesus  is Lord  not  only  of  the  visible  creation,  but  of  the  unseen  world  of  spirits as well.

The Kindness  of  Jesus  was  wonderful,  for  He  helped  all  those  who were afflicted  by  diseases  and  sickness. “He went  about  doing  good” (Acts 10,  38).

The Prayer  of  Jesus, when  He  retired  into  a desert  place,  was one of  intercession  for  sinful  men. It was  also  an  example  to  us  to pray  and  not  to  faint  (Luke  18,  1).

The Preaching  of  Jesus. The  gist  of  our  Lord’s  preaching  was: “Repent and  believe  the  Gospel.”  This  is  still,  and  will  be  for  all time, the  most  important  obligation  of  Christianity  and  the  indispensable condition of  salvation. He wrho  wishes  to  have  a part  in  the  kingdom of God,  must  believe  in  our  Lord  and  His  teaching,  and  must  do penance  for  his  sins.

Dead faith.  “The  devils  also  believe  and  tremble”,  writes  St.  James (2, 19).  These  words  are  confirmed  by  the  story  we  have  just  read, which relates  that  the  devil  confessed:  “Thou  art  the  Holy  One  of God.”  There  is  a faith  which  does  not  avail  to  salvation  — a dead faith, which  is  not  a free  act  of  obedience  and  love.

The power  of  intercession. Our  Lord  yielded  to  the  intercession of His  disciples  for  Peter’s  mother-in-law. To pray  for  the  living  and