Jesus the Healer: The Journey from Illness to the Ministry of Hospitality

Much of the spiritual preparation for healing prayer has to do with knowing our helplessness and emptiness on the one hand, and God’s overflowing love and mercy on the other.  Prayer for healing means inviting God to work in the person in God’s own way.  ~Tilda Norberg and Robert D. Webber

Welcome dear friend, to a series on the healing stories of Jesus. The root of the word healing in New Testament Greek, sozo, is the same as that of salvation and wholeness.  (UM Book of Worship) 

I invite you to enter into a time of Lectio Divina, deep prayer with scripture, as we explore one of the healing stories of Jesus.  Gather your journal if you have one, your bible and something to write with or simply use your computer, I've provided everything you need.

I confess that, up until today, the most interesting part of this week’s passage is that Peter had a family.  That has always surprised me, and I never really paid much attention to this little healing story.  It is possible that I dismissed it as a rather depressing commentary on the state of women in the world of Jesus.  I mean, have you ever had a fever?  I am exhausted by a fever and need time to recuperate from illness.  Yet, and I am exaggerating a lot but emphasizing how surface reading can invite a distortion of what is actually in the text; it is almost like the boys came in after a hard days teaching in the synagogue, and Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law because they needed a good meal.  

BUT, here is what I learned from further study.  The word translated “serve” in verse 31 is

diakone,w diakoneo {dee-ak-on-eh'-o}.  In verse 13, while Jesus was experiencing his desert temptations, angels were “ministering” to Jesus (also  diakone,w diakoneo {dee-ak-on-eh'-o}.  (from Women’s Bible Commentary)  Isn’t it interesting that the exact same Greek word is translated so dramatically different?   Apparently, in the 21^st century, angels “minister” but women “serve.”  

As I read the passage with new eyes, I get a sense of Peter’s mother-in-law as a wonderful hostess with the gift of hospitality.   Steeping myself in this passage has invited me to ponder my own giftedness, free from the projection of the irritation that emerged within me with my first glance at this miraculous healing story of Jesus.  I wonder what you will find as God speaks to you.

 

Take a moment to begin with a Breath Prayer.

Breathing in ... Gentle Jesus 
Breathing out ... Take my Hand 

Repeat your breath prayer until you feel relaxed and centered

Pray for illumination of the text, use this one or pray what emerges from within you:   Gentle Jesus, I am amazed at the ease with which you heal sick and suffering people.  Take my heart, lead me, and enlighten me through the reading of this passage.   Amen.

1.  Lectio/Read:   Mark 1: 29-31 (NET)

As you read, perhaps there is a word or phrase that will shimmer off the page and call to you.  In such a small passage, you may have to look very closely.  How do you sense the men feel about her and her illness?  Pay attention to the way Jesus touches the woman in this passage and to her response to him and her situation.  What do you notice?  Who in the story is God drawing your attention to, what word or phrase is calling you?  Simply sit with your person, your word or phrase and allow yourself to rest in the simplicity of the healing.  Be aware that you may find an image emerging or have emotions rising rather than finding rest in the passage and that is ok.

Now as soon as they left the synagogue, they entered Simon and Andrew’s house, with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down, sick with a fever, so they spoke to Jesus at once about her.  He came and raised her up by gently taking her hand. Then the fever left her and she began to serve them.

from a 13th century manuscript from the Athos monasteries, in public domain via wikimedia commons

2. Meditatio/Meditation 

Read the text a second time.  You may find that the same word, image or emotion has energy for you, but you may also find that another word, image or emotion has become more alive with meaning.  Pay attention to the energy this word has for you and consider how it illuminates your life right now.  What is the giftedness that God is calling you to reach out to minister to others?  How does that make you feel, to know that you are called to serve others through your giftedness?   Take your word or a phrase, image or emotion and write freely in your journal or on your computer.  Perhaps Jesus will gently take your hand and lead you as you write.  Don't think about what you are writing, just let God lead you deeper.

3. Oratio/Pray  

Read the text a third time.  Then read your own writing if you wrote anything.  Are there any connections you can make between what you read and the writing that flowed from your reading?  How do you respond to how God is calling you?   How does this passage call upon you to heal or to serve others?   What do you want to say to God about what you are hearing?  Take a moment to write again in your journal or on your computer as a prayer in response to what you have heard.  

4. Contemplatio/Contemplation  

Take a moment to pause.  Allow your breath prayer to emerge again.  You can use the same one from the beginning or perhaps a new one will emerge for you.  As you continue to pray, let the words fade away into silence. Spend time simply "be"ing with God. 

Breathing in ... Healing Jesus

Breathing out ... Reveal my giftedness to me

Repeat your breath prayer until it fades into silence ...  

Allow your experience of praying with this healing story of Jesus to come to a close when you are ready to move on.  Let the Spirit lead you and guide you into the presence of God as you engage your life as a loving and healing presence to others. 

Close with a prayer to send yourself into the world, use this one or pray what emerges from within you:  Gentle Jesus, lead me into the world with praise, gratitude, and a unique and audacious sense of hospitality.  Amen.