By Sharon Wilson
Untitled by Andrew Werdan via Pixabay. CC0 Creative Commons
He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. Luke 4:39
In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law. I always loved this passage in the bible because it piques my curiosity.
First it tells us that Simon/Peter was married. He had a mother-in-law so he must have been married. I wonder what his wife thought when he decided to drop his nets and leave his fishing business to follow Jesus. We don’t know if Peter was widowed or if he had children but we do know he had a mother-in-law that he cared for in his home. He must have had obligations when he left to follow Jesus. I wonder how I might handle it if my husband came home and told me that he was going to leave his job and start doing missionary work in another country. It would take a strong marriage and a lot of trust.
The other reason I like this story is that immediately after being cured, Simon’s mother-in-law waits on them.
What gratitude…
What service…
Imagine, being stricken with fever and possibly on your deathbed and then being cured. Of course we would want to serve the one who brought us that healing! I have experienced healings myself. Maybe not the physical kind, but I do know that God has healed me in a number of different ways. When I think of healings, I am reminded of that old classic movie “The Robe.” In the movie there is a character, Miriam, a crippled woman whose embittered heart was transformed by Jesus. She is still crippled, but her healing was that of her embittered heart. Jesus can and does bring physical healings, but are we as aware of and as filled with gratitude when it is a crippled heart he transforms?
Trust and gratitude. These are two things I find myself constantly lacking when I run into difficulties in my life. Today’s reading reminds me to enter into that trust and respond with gratitude.
Are their areas of your life where you need to trust in a deeper way?
Can you remember the intensity of gratitude when God has brought forth a healing in your life—physical or otherwise? Do you still bless and thank God for that miracle with intensity?
About the Author:
Sharon Wilson – Wife, Mother, Writer, Catholic Speaker, and a WINE Specialist. Sharon has a degree in education and has worked as a freelance writer, Respect Life Coordinator, a teacher, in advertising, radio, buyer and in youth advocacy – She even rode an elephant in the circus once! Sharon speaks, writes and shares about God’s healing and about the great gift of being Catholic.
Love this Sharon. Your example about the character of Miriam, in the movie the Robe, immediately reminded me of Moses’ sister, Miriam. I’ve always loved this story too. That fact that her lack of trust and gratitude, in God’s selection of her brother (Moses) as the leader of the tribe of Israel, led to the opposite of healing in her life (leprosy). Perhaps it is in the times of “unhealing”, discontentment, and distress, that we can best find our lack of trust. I know this is often true for me. When I recognize and then repenting, just as Miriam did, I often find my healing and missing gratitude. Although I always try to live a life of trust and gratitude, it is comforting for me to remember that God is merciful and loving, that He is always there to give me a second chance when I fail. Thanks for this thought provoking reflection and have a great day!
O yes, He healed my heart , for which I am for ever grateful
Love this Sharon – thank you!