February 4 2024 Epiphany 5
You’ve heard the saying – having a foot in every camp. Well, that is the thought that struck me during the week when I read Paul’s letter. He appears to be identifying himself with everyone – which, to me, says he is identifying as no-one. But as I explored this reading, it became clear that that is not what he is doing. By identifying with Jews, Greeks, law abiding and lawless, weak, and strong, he is showing the flexibility of relationship that we can have with others in the same way that Christ excluded no-one. Paul is telling us that it is not our parochial viewpoint that matters but God’s vision of healing and wholeness which embraces all the diversities of life.
And then in our gospel, I struggle with the concept that as soon as Simon Peter’s mother-in-law is healed, she serves them. I mean, really?? But, once again, exploring this a bit deeper than a ‘superficial reading’, I found that the word Mark uses for ‘serve’ is the same one used to describe the angels’ service to Jesus in the wilderness. Mark may have moved into a residential address, but the horizon of service is still the divine purpose and not just another horrible reinforcing of traditional gender roles. Peter’s mother-in-law does not serve because she ‘has’ to, or is ‘compelled’ to, or is ‘supposed’ to. She serves because that is what discipleship looks like; because she is showing us what following Jesus will really mean. This restoration, this healing, shows us a story we often struggle to see. That Jesus does not heal just to heal, or prove himself, or to confirm God’s activity in the world; Jeus heals for the sake of, because of, and assuming that, the Kingdom of God is already here – and that we are part of it, that we have a role in it, and Jesus needs us. Simon’s mother-in-law reveals that this role looks a heck of lot like how Jesus describes his own ministry, his own power, his own presence, “for the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”.
In this story, as in the one last week, Jesus heals or ‘frees’ Peter’s mother-in-law from illness and he likewise frees those who have crowded around the doorway from illness and possession. But there is more to this ‘freeing’ than just freeing them from something, Jesus frees them, and us, for a life of purpose, meaning and good works. Peter’s mother-in-law is freed, and restored, to her community, she is once again free to ‘serve’, to return to her community and the role within that community that she so rightly held. And Jesus frees us too, so that we can live into the life God has called us to and live lives of purpose, meaning, service and generosity. When Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law he ‘takes her hand and lifts her up’, quick and instant, he doesn’t linger, he doesn’t just tell her to ‘get up’, he ‘lifts her up’, and in this we can see images of resurrection and empowerment. He brings her back to being who she was, and in that action, she becomes a disciple, called to minister, to serve – like the angels did for Jesus in the wilderness and like the Son of Man, who came not to be served but to serve. Jesus lifted her up. This story of Simon’s mother-in-law tells us that God does not call us to be something we are not, but that God is in the business of restoring us to who we really are.
So as you go through this week, and you find yourself responding to the needs of the people and world around you, maybe you can remember that in doing this, you are responding to God’s call and living into the freedom that is ours in Christ, because, in the words of Fredrick Buechner “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet”.
And Mark tells us, the next day, before the day has even started, Jesus goes out into the country, by himself, to pray. We often hear of Jesus ‘withdrawing’ to pray. In this and similar ‘throw away lines’ our gospel writers tell us of Jesus’ deep commitment to his spiritual life, the source of his strength and vision. We are shown Jesus’ need to withdraw; his hunger for solitary prayer; his inclination to rest, recuperate and reorient his heart. And these glimpses remind us that the Incarnation is truly Christianity’s best gift to the world. The Christ – the Messiah of the whole universe – prays, rests, reflects, and meditates. He needs time alone. He needs time alone with God. He is just like us.
This passage ends with Jesus moving on to more towns, to more homes. Despite the disciples telling him ‘everyone’ is searching for him, Jesus’ response is – no. He needs to move on and continue his mission to the world. How hard is it for us to ‘move on’, to let go of what we are doing, what we know, let go of the things everyone else wants us to do, and move on to the things we hear God calling us to do. After his time of prayer and reflection, Jesus recognises and trusts the voice that says ‘time to go’. Can we?