From Sickness to Resurrection

One of the lines that I have always found amusing in today's Gospel, is after Peter's mother-in-law is healed, she begins to wait on Jesus and the apostles.  I had always thought that was sort of convenient.  But when we look at the Greek, the word used in raising Peter's mother-in-law out of bed, is the same phrase that will be used in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  More so, her 'service' is not just in the domestic realm, but she is one who serves along with Jesus - she is a disciple.

The Jesus of Mark's Gospel comes to reveal the Kingdom of God.  But to understand the Kingdom we have to be transformed into disciples.  Part of that transformation and conversion is moving away from Sin and Evil and living a graced, or healed, life.  Jesus restores people to health and sends them on their way.  St. Paul talks about the obligation he feels in proclaiming the Gospel.  Paul will state that even when he tries not to speak of the Word of God, the desire or longing is so great that he ends up proclaiming the Gospel.

Jesus' healing and forgiveness unfolds for us what the Kingdom of God means.  The miracles of Jesus are not ends in themselves, but invitations to experience the love and mercy of God.  In doing so we can draw close to the One who draws close to us through the incarnation.  As we see with the apostles, Jesus demands authentic discipleship and a deep commitment of one's heart.  Healing occurs when we recognize the ultimate and true healer.

Mark mixes physical sickness with the expulsion of demons.  To be sure when sickness and disease occur in our life, sometimes the cause can be anxiety or worry which leads to physical disease.  And certainly our sickness can cause all sort of emotional ailments.  So the healing that takes places is both and at the same time physical, spiritual, and emotional.

The Church, as a faithful Disciple, continues on the ministry of healing through the anointing of the sick, and in the sacrament of reconciliation.  In the sacraments of the Church Jesus continues to raise us up so as to serve the Body of Christ.