February 5, 2024
“As soon as they left the synagogue, they 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.” Mark 1:29-31 NRSV
This text always reminds me of my mother-in-law Joyce Chamberlain. Her visits always included all kinds of goodies: hunks of cheese from a specialty shop near her home; nuts from the food co-op; baked goods including at least one cake and one pie; snacks like home-made Chex Mix; and small gifts for our kids and for me. She would then set to work, and before her departure a few days later, the oven and refrigerator would be cleaned, the children engaged in games and books, and a pan of fresh-made enchiladas sat in the freezer ready to heat up. Until the past year, she has thrived on showing her love for others by exercising her considerable gifts of hospitality even when she was the guest. It was her service, and her great joy.
She and Peter’s mother-in-law were cut from the same cloth. One minute she was burning up with fever. Jesus, a guest in the house learns that she is sick, he goes to her, takes her by the hand and lifts her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
I used to think of this as a random story of healing amidst many others on Jesus’ first day of public ministry. Until I learned that the Greek word for serve is diakonis, or deacon which means to serve at table and to do ministry. She wasn’t lifted up from what was oppressing her and restored because she earned it, but as pure gift, which is grace. No quid pro quo (tit for tat), but pro bono (for the common good). What’s really cool about it is that the gift of being lifted up flows into service which becomes a gift for others so that they too, might serve.
Who has lifted you? How did that lead to serving from your giftedness? That serving can lift others. And that can change the world. ~ Anne
Wayfinding 