Word to the Wise
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - Wednesday in the First Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20 and Mark 1:29-39]On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. then the fever left her and she waited on them.
The unfolding drama of Mark's gospel introduces us to a number of important themes in today's passage. They include the fact that Peter, James and John (perhaps Andrew) would be especially close to him (a kind of executive committee, as it were) among the disciples; the spreading nature of Jesus' ministry of healing and exorcism; the "Messianic secret" (the demons know his true identity but the disciples will not until the resurrection); and lastly, and important for my reflection today, the power of Jesus to heal even in the absence of any faith in him. There is no indication that Simon's mother-in-law has any belief in Jesus, nor does the fact that her condition is called to his attention by the disciples indicate any faith. Although faith can move Jesus to heal (remember the man brought on a stretcher up on the roof by his friends), his power is not limited to those who show explicit faith in him (remember the crippled beggar in the Gospel of John 5:1-15). This does not excuse us from praying for the sick, but it does remind us that we do not "control" the power of Jesus to act whenever or wherever he chooses. The Gospel of Mark is introducing us to this power and inviting us to follow along to see where it takes us. AMEN
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