Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
Jesus raised up Simon's mother-in-law, creating in her life a mini-resurrection, a prelude to Jesus' own, and also of the resurrection of the faithful on the last day. The resurrection always implies new life, a life qualitatively different from what had been before. This is meant to be true for all of us, who "were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (see Romans 6:4). And we see this new life in every person that experiences a transformative healing by Jesus. In this case of Simon's mother-in-law, we can see it in her readiness to serve. One moment she was bed bound with fever, the next she was up and waiting on her guests. She manifested a spirit of hospitality and service, but one that was directed specifically toward the Kingdom since it provided for Jesus himself. She was "one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward" and "one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward" (see Matthew 10:41). She had identified her part in the divine story and her role in the plan of God and she was eager to pursue it.
Once Jesus touches a life that life naturally desires to express itself in thankfulness but is often so overwhelmed as to need to have that urge shaped and directed. Sometimes the right response is to follow Jesus directly by committing one's whole life to him as a disciple. But not always, as with the man from whom Jesus cast out a demon:
the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you" (see Mark 5:18-19).
The eager welcoming of Jesus into one's life takes as many different shapes as there are people who receive him. It can look like Zacchaeus climbing down from the tree and welcoming Jesus enthusiastically into his home. Or it can look like Matthew leaving his post as a tax collector to follow him. But one thing is consistent among all followers of Jesus. Things are different after meeting him than the were before, and life can never be the same.
When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
Given how a single healing can so profoundly transform an individual it is no wonder that the popularity of Jesus grew exponentially as those touched by his healing power told others who in turn told still others about him. He didn't need demons disclosing his identity precisely because it was only a distraction from the true revelation of his loving heart that was already on display for all to see. Demons who knew nothing of the transformative power of God's love manifested in Jesus Christ might speak accurately of his identity, but they could not convey the deep reality that was only to be found by entering into relationship with Jesus himself.
Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
What made Jesus so compelling to others, whether they could articulate it or not, was his connection and closeness to his heavenly Father. Jesus was always about his Father's business and everything he did was a manifestation of the Father, a visible icon of the Father's heart. Jesus demonstrated this priority by finding time and space apart from the crowds to dedicate to prayer. If Jesus did this, and if it was this vital source that made him so irresistible to the crowds, then how much more ought we to spend time in prayer. We should not undervalue it or merely fit it in as an optional nicety when convenient. We should treat it as our own source of connection to the vine, and the only way we can hope to bear fruit as disciples. The main manifestation of this connection for us is found in the sacraments. But like Jesus we also need time alone with God in order to be fully equipped to live as we are meant to live.
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
We don't always have this clarity of purpose. In fact, probably few of us have so precisely identified what we are meant to be about. What we need first is encounter with Jesus, and the time spent with him in prayer to give direction to the new life we receive from him. Unlike for Jesus, the specific details of our future will remain obscure. But we can nevertheless move forward with confidence of purpose as long as we are in some way, like Simon's mother-in-law, serving him.
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