Healing and Thanksgiving

 

Mk 1:29-39                                                                                                 5^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B

“He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her, and she waited on them.”

Obviously, the focus of this Sunday’s Gospel is on Jesus’ healing of those who were sick. Up until this time, while he had cast out demons, Jesus hadn’t healed. And Mark tells us that after the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law, many others were brought to Jesus to be healed. What a wonderfully amazing and probably confusing time for those who interacted with Jesus in this way!

I have always been struck by a different part of this passage though, and not always in a positive way. After Jesus approached Simon’s mother-in-law, who like many women in scripture remains unnamed, he helped her up and the fever left her, and she waited on them. Really? She is healed and immediately she waits on them. I've joked with some of my female friends by saying: "Oh sure, heal the woman then send her back into the kitchen to cook and clean for the men."

But maybe I need to set my own angst aside and not assume she waited on them because she was told to or was even  expected to by cultural norms. Maybe, she chose this immediate response. AND maybe she chose it not out of an expectation placed on women in those times or even a habitual activity. Maybe she chose it because she had a gift of hospitality. Maybe that is how she expressed gratitude…by making food to bring to the table for others to eat and share in fellowship over.  

How do you express gratitude? When Jesus touches your heart and maybe even brings healing to you in some way, how do you express gratitude?