Mark 1:29-39
Jesus left the synagogue at Capernaum, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus left the synagogue at Capernaum, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
All of us suffer sickness or losses from time to time. They are opportunities both to be healed and to be cured. For the healing of the body perhaps an exorcism or antibiotics or radiation is effective. For the cure of the soul our suffering (regardless of our healing or lack thereof) must turn our heads and our hearts to God so that no matter what is happening within us or around us we “love God more dearly and follow God more nearly.”
ReplyDeleteSimon’s mother-in-law’s body was healed, thus she was able to get up from her sick bed. That her soul was cured is evident in her response, emulating the way of Jesus, “she began to serve them.” The soul is cured who recognizes their relationship with God and changes their life to find their will in God’s will, the will to serve others. Healing is individual and personal. Curing is relational and public.
Jesus demonstrated the preeminence of the connection between humanity and Divinity when in the “morning he got up and went to a deserted place.” In this clear and decisive action Jesus turned away from the crowds of people who must have been praising and applauding him for all the miracles he had been doing. I can’t help but imagine that Jesus must have felt some inclination to stick around and enjoy the glory. But instead of staying and basking in the accolades Jesus chose to turn away from being esteemed and to return to God the Father. He chose to be alone in a deserted place and pray to the Father. Jesus chose to continue his spiritual journey listening and according his will to the Father, to continue the work that he “came out to do.” Jesus understood that all the good that he was able to do was the consequence of his relationship with God the Father, it was the fruit of his faithfulness to the will of the One who sent him.
I pray that every morning I too can return, and return, and return to find my will in the will of God, the One who sent me. I pray that like Martha and Jesus I too can get up and be cured as I act decisively to love and serve God and God’s people.