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| Image by Paul Bica |
Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law
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A Greeting
I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night.
(Psalm 63:7)
A Reading
When Jesus entered Peter’s house,
he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever;
he touched her hand, and the fever left her,
and she got up and began to serve him.
(Matthew 8:14-15)
Music
Meditative Verse
You gave me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
(Psalm 4:1b)
A Reflection
An unexpected result of our following Jesus is that he always
follows us, so that we benefit others unintentionally, simply
by our fidelity... What characterizes this healing by Jesus is that
there is no intercession either by the sick person or by a friend. The
love of God enters the presence of human misery, and Jesus' hand
extends without hesitation... God's deft hands are drawing
new life out of nothingness and illness.
- from Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word: Meditations on the Gospel According to St. Matthew
by Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis
Verse for the Day
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.
(Psalm 4:8)
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| Image by Paul Bica |
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What seems startling about today’s very brief healing story is how casually it occurs. Jesus enters Peter’s home and sees a suffering woman within Peter’s household. He touches her hand and moves on and in the quiet of his departure, her recovery has occurred. As Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis has written, when we follow Jesus, we carry him with us. No one has asked for this healing; Jesus has simply responded to what he sees. The story invites us to imagine what it might be like if we could take Jesus with us into any home of any friend or family and let him heal whatever may be going on there. How wonderful that would be. Is it possible that this is exactly what we are meant to do? So that we may be inspired to do whatever we can to assist those in need? We may not have Jesus’ capacity to heal but we offer our hands and hearts in service, as our way of bringing him in the room. And we can pray, in the knowledge that Jesus knows all suffering. “No simple act of mercy escapes his watchful eye,” says today’s song. Jesus sees Peter’s mother-in-law and he sees the person you care about too. And you yourself. “This you have asked of us: do little things with great love,” says the lyric. Who will benefit from knowing that Jesus travels with you today?
How will they know his presence from the things that you do?
LC† Being God's Hands is a project of
Lutherans Connect / Lutheran Campus Ministry Toronto
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