Epiphany 5B February 5, 2012 Family of Christ Lutheran Church Chanhassen, Minnesota Pastor Kristie Hennig Mark 1:29-39 Jesus Christ s Day Off [Read gospel from Mark.] Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. You may be seated. Now listen to the testimonies of these two who were on hand that day when Jesus took a feverish woman by the hand and the world turned. These two were there through the evening as others came to Jesus for healing, and into the next morning when he disappeared into the fog for a few precious moments alone. Hear the story now from the perspectives of Simon and his wife. [high school students in partial costume at music stands] Simon: We left the Synagogue, where Jesus had cast out the unclean spirits, and went to my place for some food and rest. When we got there, we discovered that my mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. Jesus took her by the hand. I didn t hear his prayer, but he helped her to stand and she was well the fever had left her! As if she had never been ill, my mother-in-law, along with the other women, was soon offering Jesus and our guests hospitality. Simon s wife: It was remarkable. And what struck me most, I think, was how Jesus received my mother s hospitality, 1
our hospitality, as much as the way he himself had served my mother. There was something about it it was as if he actually saw us women and was grateful for our welcome and our work. It seemed he actually valued us for who we are, as well as what we did for him. Not like the Jewish or Roman men of our time. He told my mother that we reminded him of angels who had ministered to him in the wilderness. Then he himself was so gracious. People surrounded our home in the evening, even after dark, and he met their needs, healed them, heard them, and sent harmful spirits and demons out of them. He is a man who was at once gentle and very forceful. It was an amazing night. I am quite proud that my husband is able to travel with this man. Simon: In the morning we couldn t find Jesus. It must have been still quite dark when he got up and left, so I don t know that he got much sleep. We looked for him for hours. Eventually we found him in an isolated spot on the edge of town, sitting under a tree praying. I am afraid we barged right up to him, because it had taken us so long to find him and we were a little angry not to mention afraid that having only just called us to follow him, he might have left us. Anyway, we told him that everyone in town was looking for him, but he said we were going to leave. He said that he had come to proclaim a message and that we had to go to other places and do just that. So we went, compelled by something in him so strong it could only be the Spirit of God. And we heard him proclaim his message, 2
saw him heal people all over Galilee, and witnessed his fame spread like fire through dry grass. [the actors step out from behind the music stands and return to their seats] No one knows her name. We know her son-in-law quite well the disciple whom Jesus named Peter, the rock. His mother-in-law goes unnamed. Since she was living with her married daughter, we can guess that she was probably a widow. No doubt she worked hard chopping firewood and salting fish, and her daughter and son-in-law probably depended on her to watch after the children. As the oldest woman in the household, it would have been her personal honor and responsibility to extend hospitality to visitors. But on the day Jesus came to visit, she couldn t meet that expectation. She was dangerously ill, dehydrated and delirious. The damp cloth her daughter applied lovingly to her forehead and cheeks provided only momentary relief. Jesus goes right to her, takes her limp hand, and lifts her up. What happens next is even more remarkable: not only is the woman restored to health and vigor but according to Mark, she began to serve. 3
And in that instant, some students of the Bible say, the church began. 1 Simon s mother-in-law is the first in a long line of people who, having been restored to wholeness, respond by serving others. Mary and Martha, their grief postponed, throw Jesus a dinner party to thank him for bringing their brother Lazarus back to them. The outcast Zaccheaus serves Jesus in his home after Jesus calls him friend. A woman shunned by her community but ackowledged by Jesus, gives him a cup of cool water on a hot day and then runs to share with her neighbors the good news of the living water she has found. Even Jesus himself seems to follow the example of Simon s mother, when he takes the posture of a servant and washes the tired feet of his friends in the upper room. And that was just the beginning Think of all the serving that Christ s followers have done throughout the world, down through the centuries since Simon s mother-in-law got up and served her guests. Think of the many who, healed of their brokenness and empowered by the spirit of the living God, have paid it forward in all kinds of ways 1 Lawrence Wood, Living the Word, Christian Century: January 27, 2009, 19. 4
Serving others in kitchens and living rooms, laboratories and health care centers, offices and refugees camps, boardrooms and legislative halls, fields and factories, sanctuaries and gathering spaces, shelters and beauty salons, classrooms and gymnasiums, parks and playgrounds and more. The story in Mark about the lifting up of Simon s mother-in-law and Jesus entering into the stillness of the early morning demonstrates that sustaining a life of service, of giving ourselves away, requires a consistent, renewable source of energy. A person or a family or a church -- can only run so long on fumes. At some point, we are going to need to fill up our tanks. And today s story in Mark s gospel shows us that even early in his public ministry, Jesus understood this. He worked long days casting out demons and healing broken people, preaching and teaching. His Midas touch was making him a rock star. But he recognized his need to re-charge and re-group. The way Mark tells it, Jesus moves fast but he also stops, receives the ministry of others, then gets away from the crowd, and enters into stillness, into the presence of God. 5
Jesus takes the day off or tries to. He gets up early and finds a quiet place to pray, to re-fuel. In the Judeo-Christian tradition this re-fueling day is called Sabbath, and it is a gift from God s own hand. In one version of the story of the genesis of all things, the Creator invented it herself when she rested from her creative activity on the seventh day of the creation. Now as Pr Josh was saying, our theme for Lent (coming up in 2-1/2 weeks) is Keeping Sabbath. The beautiful book we re recommending is filled with ideas on how to set down your work and responsibilities, and sink into holy rest. How to establish a rhythm of work and rest that will nurture and restore your energy, keeping the outflow and input in balance. Themes for preaching on Sundays and Wednesdays will come from this book, which is both theological and practical. It s one of my favorites and I recommend it! We ll dig deeper into Sabbath-keeping in coming weeks. Meanwhile Today, there s a football game to watch, snacks and beverages to tuck in, napping to do, and commercials to enjoy. Today, Simon s mother-in-law is the patron saint of all who will get off the couch to re-fill the chip and dip bowl, warm the wings, or gather up empty cans and bottles for recycling. Blessed are those who rise to serve one another. 6
And blessed are those who take delight in this day of rest. You may have already seen the long version of the commercial that Matthew Broderick made for Honda, reprising his role as Ferris Bueller about the high school student with senioritis who has inspired millions of high school seniors to take a day off. 26 years later the graying Broderick is driving around town in his CR-V, playing hooky from his grown-up life as an actor. I don t know if the ad will sell cars, but I think Jesus would like it. It demonstrates the wisdom of taking a breather once in a while to love yourself, tend to your needs, fill your tank. Life moves pretty fast, says Broderick. If you don t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Life is packed with stuff you have to do. Sometimes you just have to live a little. Jesus did. Thanks be to God. 7