Matthew 8:14-17

When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

I will admit that for years, it was easy to make a feministic joke out of this text: Jesus just healed Peter's mother-in-law because the rest of the disciples weren't capable of feeding themselves.

And joking aside, there are many women (myself included) who find it difficult to read this without thinking of all the times a woman in our life has served her family while sick or unwell. And it is easy to read into this that she is healed simply to serve the men in this group.

And yet...

Is this not the model for discipleship that Jesus offers all of us? To heal us - in essence to serve us - so that we can then serve others?

There are little things in this text that jump out as worth noticing for me.

First, how intimate this act is. Jesus touches her hand. This tells me that this healing is one of compassion, not simply expedience - to get her back to doing what she's supposed to be doing.

For a man to even touch a woman was a no-no. So Jesus here is valuing her as a person, more than healing her for the sake of tradition or expedience.

He is bringing her back to the life she is called to and undoubtedly loves.

Her first act, as she is healed, is to serve Jesus himself. It isn't to whip up a big meal for the crew. It is to serve her Lord.

This Advent perhaps you are waiting for some kind of healing in your life.

Perhaps you feel you have been stuck - prevented from fully serving as you have felt called to serve.

As we wait for the Light to come into the world, may you find that calling within and may the healing that comes, prompt you forward into a full and abundant life of service and love.

Come Lord Jesus! Come with healing hands and heart! Amen