12 Step Eucharist Epiphany 5B, Mark 1:29-39, Healing Peter’s Mother-in-law, Wednesday, February 7, 2024 Saint Mark’s, Little Rock 5:30 p.m.
Jesus’ healing stories of people who were “sick or possessed with demons” abound in tonight’s chapter from Mark,/ but the story of the healing of Simon Peter’s unnamed mother-in-law is most intriguing./ Jesus “takes her hand,/ raises her up,/ the fever leaves her,/ and she serves them.” These two verses in Mark’s first chapter may be the heart of what happens when Jesus heals.
This very short story describes our experience of Jesus’ healing in our lives.
At some point in our addictions, we are touched by God/ and come to a moment of clarity. When we respond, we are raised,/ lifted up, eieiren.” the same Greek word for resurrection. Indeed, recovery is a resurrected life. It is not the same old life. It is a new life where sometimes people do not recognize us, as is Jesus’ resurrection when Mary Magdalene and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus did not know who he was. In recovery, we are changed,/ brought back to life from a dead life. Family members do not believe their eyes and ears, and may have difficulty relating to us. Ours and their old modes of operation no longer work.
“The fever left, and she began to serve.” Some think this means she cooked for them, because Jesus and his disciples were hungry! This may be true,/ but the Greek word here for serve is “diekonei,” the same word for deacon, servant minister, or radical service. Jesus talks about it later in Mark (10:42-44) when he says, “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant. I did not come to be served, but to serve.” To serve others is the mark of true discipleship. Service is what we are also called to do. A significant part of the healing of our addiction continues as we serve others, telling our story, working with those still sick and suffering from their addiction./
So, what happens next to Peter’s mother-in-law? We never hear from her again. She is like John’s woman at the well, Matthew’s magi, Luke’s prodigal son’s older brother, and the rich young ruler Jesus tells to go sell his possessions and give to the poor. We don’t know what they do next “to serve.”/
Some may see “Peter’s unnamed mother-in-law as an unlikely icon. Her story is only recorded in a scant two verses, and like many women in the Bible, we don’t even remember her name. We do know that having been touched by Jesus,/ she is raised to the new, high calling of serving others, even before his so-called inner circle learns about it./ She gets up,/ newly healed,/ and she serves./ I would bet she doesn’t stop serving others at verse 31. 1”
1Victoria Lyn Garvey, “Living by the Word, In the Lectionary, February 7, Epiphany 5B, Mark 1:29-39,” Christian Century, January 27, 2021.
Joanna Seibert