It takes Mark only three verses to give us an account of this miracle of Jesus (Mark 1:29-31) It is very beautiful.
On leaving the synagogue they went straight to the house of Simon and Andrew; and James and John went with them. Simon's mother-in-law was ill in bed with fever. They told him about her at once. He came forward, took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. The fever left her and she waited upon them.
"they went straight to the house..." Sounds urgent. Does Jesus already know in his heart that the woman is ill? It seems he isn't told of her sickness until after he arrives.
"They told Jesus about her at once" I like this line. Why do we delay in telling Jesus in our prayer what's of urgent concern in our lives. We tell others right away phoning or texting or emailing, but we delay in our prayer, perhaps waiting until things become a crisis.
Notice, "He came forward..." Jesus is advancing on what ails us, what's weighing us down - no sin, illness or evil can stand against Jesus. He's in charge!
Jesus, "took her by the hand and helped her to her feet." Isn't this marvelous - Jesus heals her with tender love. Oh, to heal the world with love! In Mark's gospel Jesus often takes the sick person by the hand. In addition, Jesus lifts her up. Sounds already like a little resurrection. Don't we all need a hand being lifted up? Name it!
"The fever left her and she waited upon them." Jesus wants to heal us of anything that keeps us from serving others in love. And what might that be - what needs healing? Resentment, untreated addiction, pride, pettiness, old wounds, that I lie to myself, justifications, ignorance, stubbornness. This is how we're down for the count and burning up with fever. Jesus, who heals fevered imaginations, have mercy!
Now we can make our prayer!
