February 2, 2021
Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture comes from Mark 1:29: As soon as [Jesus and the disciples] left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. (NRSV)
The five men leave the synagogue and enter Simon’s house, but his mother-in-law is ill. Did they know before they went that she was sick? Did they find out after they arrived? Was this the reason Simon invited them there? Did he have plans for Jesus to heal her? Or was this simply the usual activity - worship, home, a meal, rest, an opportunity for fellowship?
How often have our Sundays been similar - worship, lunch, a nap. When my mother first began to attend worship with us, she looked forward to the promise of lunch afterward. However, she knew she was not invited to lunch unless she went to worship. ;-) I do not know how much the promise of time with hubby and I, and a meal, played a part in her beginning to attend worship, but I was grateful that became a part of her Sunday, and ours.
We miss those times right now. The pandemic has created social distancing and that has become more of the norm. One day we will return to worshipping together in the same building, and having time for fellowship, but what about the healing? There are many we know who would benefit from the touch of Jesus and his lifting them up.
Perhaps the point, however, is not the immediate healing. Perhaps there is something to learn in the ritual - gather, learn, worship, scatter, and expect Jesus to be present through it all. The healing will come in the way it is meant to, because Jesus IS present. Always.
Blessings. And prayers.
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