Leaving the synagogue Jesus went to Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in the grip of a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. Standing over her he rebuked the fever and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to serve them. (Luke 4:38-39)
The account of Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law is told in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (synoptic means the three gospels that are similar in many ways). Mark tells the story in the first chapter of his Gospel, 1:29-31. Matthew tells us later in chapter 8:14-15. No matter, the account always follows after the story of the demon possessed man who came into the synagogue and was healed by Jesus.
It seems that as soon as the synagogue service was over, Jesus went to Peter's house. It's also Andrew's house, who is Peter's brother. Mark tells us that James and John went too. This wall-painting shows us the little house suddenly filled with all of the newly called apostles. In the fresco here Peter seems to be introducing his wife's mother to Jesus, but Jesus appears to be ahead of introductions. The painter has included two of the sick lady's pleased neighbor friends. A sweet imagined detail.
Jesus holds a little scroll in his right hand. A Catholic might think Jesus picked up a copy of the synagogue weekend bulletin. Rather, it's the artist's way of telling us that Jesus is teaching us something even without words. And while the two verses shared above are from Luke's Gospel, the painting shows Jesus taking the lady by the hand, which we're told of in Mark's version.
Why such variety in the telling? One evangelist wants to stress one aspect over another. And any story is going to be told in different ways by the folks who were present.
Verse 38: They go to Simon's house. We've not even heard of Simon before this verse. Luke doesn't tell us anything about the calling of the apostles. So maybe Jesus and Peter are newly acquainted, and Peter wants to introduce Jesus to his family. But someone is sick. We don't know her name because it isn't important. It is a very human story: Jesus entering a home. Jesus not being afraid of sickness. Jesus listening and responding to a human need. Jesus at once translating Saturday worship and prayer into care for others.
The verse goes on to tell us it was a high fever. We can surmise that this lady is no youngster and is down for the count. Interesting, they ask Jesus: "Can you do something for her?" They don't tell Jesus what to do, but they have just seen him free the demon possessed man in the synagogue only minutes before.
A fever! Here the fever is physical, but sometimes our thinking is fevered - like whipped up fevered fears, fevered tale-telling or fevered assessing about how other people are living their lives. Like the fevered chorus of townsfolk in an Italian opera!
Verse 39: The religious laws forbade someone visiting the sick from sitting on the bed. That's good advice even for today. Luke tells us Jesus remained standing and scolded the fever, as if it was some kind of personal presence or power. But Mark tells us so tenderly and characteristically, "Jesus took her by the hand and raised her up." So human - and with a hint of resurrection. Christians ought to specialize in taking people by the hand. But we live in a germ obsessed culture - all these sprays, wipes, filters and sanitizers. Along with a smile, holding another person's hand is perhaps the most Christian action. It's just the Gospel.
Luke tells us that the healed woman got up from the bed immediately and started to serve them. This isn't proof that women belong in the kitchen, but a demonstration that the healing was complete, and that she didn't have lingering effects. "Oh give me a little time and I'll get back to you when I regain my strength." Things are back to normal for this lady.
Will we ever see "normal" again in the life of the Church or in the nation? God will have to answer that. But we can ask for ourselves to be kept on our feet and strong enough to do what we have before us to do. That's a good prayer.
