Epiphany 5B
February 8, 2015
There used to be a TV show on, called 24 with Kiefer Sutherland. The show followed the main character for 24 hours in his life. Every show, or day, was different, otherwise it would have been a very boring eight seasons. But each day included the same elements. Bauer is faced with a challenge. He spends the next 23 hours figuring out what he needs to do to address the problem, while new roadblocks are thrown up throughout the day. At some point, he rests.
Today, we get a view into what could be considered the 24 pilot episode, or maybe where the original idea came from. Today we hear about 24, a day in the life of Jesus. And while the day we hear about may not be like every other day in Jesus’ life, it contains the key elements into his life. As self-professed followers of Jesus, it gives us a road map of what we are to do in our life, in each 24 hour day.
A quick recap of the day we hear about this morning.
He healed and lifted up the disciples’ mother-in-law.
At night, the whole town comes. He cured many.
In the morning, he went off to pray in a deserted place.
Later he moves on and proclaims the good news somewhere else.
Let’s break that down a little.
The first part we hear is that Jesus enters the house of Simon and Andrew. Their mother-in-law was sick with a fever. In those pre-antibiotic days, a fever was a serious and deadly matter. The Gospel says that Jesus lifted her up. The interesting thing about this is that the word that’s originally used is the same word as is used to describe Jesus’ resurrection. He took her hand, and raised her up.
After he raises up the mother in law, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed. And by all, I think they mean all. It says that the whole city was gathered at his door. It’s clear that there, at this house, in the dark, Jesus was pressed into further service and a lot of it. He cures many of them. Finally, he retires.
When he got up, he went off to pray because he needed to be recharged, to be reconnected to God. Even he, God incarnate, needed to actively connect with God. Jesus rested first, and then rose in the dark to go off to pray. We too need to rest. Then we need to carve out time to go off and pray. To reconnect with God and recharge.
[wait]
We hear that the disciples hunted him down, exclaiming that “everyone is searching for you”. His response? He said they need to move on to the next town, so he can proclaim the good news there. Because that is what he came to do.
So in his 24 hours, he heals someone in private and raises her up. He heals hordes of others after word spreads. He goes off to pray in an isolated and dark place. He moves on, presumably to do the same thing, again and again and again.
As followers of Jesus, this is what we need to do too. Two weeks from today, we’ll celebrate the first Sunday of Lent. Look at what Jesus did in his 24 hours and think about yourself. What of these traits should you do more of? What should you start? Lent is a good time to try something out like that. More than giving up meat or chocolate. Do something modeling Jesus’ 24 hour busy day, because it will reconnect you with God. What you pick is up to you. Or maybe you share with someone else and journey through Lent together. With Jesus as our guide, here are some options.
First we need to heal and raise up others. Maybe we can’t resurrect them in exactly the same way. But we absolutely can, as our translation says, take someone by the hand and lift them up. That’s personal. That’s touching someone. And helping them in a very intimate way.
When you’re finished with what you intended to do, with extending your hand to help someone else, more need likely be made apparent. Help more. Heal some of the crowds from the city that come to your door at the end of your long day. This requires fortitude, I think. It’s one thing to help someone when you choose. It feels good for us, the helper. And when we’re done with what we intended, we’re done. We’ve satiated that need in us to help. And yet, more need appears. It’s at that moment, when I’m ready to hang up my apron, or have answered the most contentious caller’s question, that I’m pressed into service again. And that second time, after I’ve done what I set out to do, it isn’t nearly as rewarding for me. But the need remains. So serve more. Heal more. Love more. It’s inconvenient, and unscheduled and trying.
And necessary.
When you’ve offered a helping hand, helped more and are spent, find time to pray more. Despite the mounting need, pray. Regularly. Daily.
And at some point, move on and repeat the cycle. Heal. Heal more. Pray. Move on.
As 21st century overly-busy, overly self-centered folks I can tell you that I have a little trouble with two of these four things Jesus did. If you know me, or are like me at all, this may resonate with you too. First, go off and pray. When there’s that much to do? However can they live without me?
Second, move on. When there’s that much to do? However can they live without me?
Regarding prayer, I know that I need to actively schedule time in my day – every day – to pray and be simply in the presence of God. Without a plan, that intention of mine slips away, with all of the demands of the day beckoning. During Lent, I’m going to pray Morning Prayer every weekday morning. I’ve prayed the Daily Office before, and it’s precisely the routine and same-ness that gives my soul rest. Of the things Jesus did in his 24 hours, this is the one I need more of now.
Finally, what are we to make of Jesus simply moving on to another town? Isn’t there more to be done here, with this project? With this effort? With this need? We have a key why the moving on strategy works with the mother-in-law’s story. After Jesus touches her, heals her and raises her up, we hear that her response was that she served the disciples that evening.
Many criticize this story as an indication of the anti-feminist sentiments of the time. While they certainly were paternalistic times, I think it’s misguided to be offended by her service. Going back to the original language, the word that’s used to describe her service is diakonia. It’s the word that describes how the angels served Jesus. It is a holy service, done in response to God’s healing touch and grace in our lives. It’s not drudgery. It’s the same service we are all called to, when we seek and serve Christ in all people, in response to God’s grace and love. It is also the source of the word deacon.
In response to the presence of God’s hand lifting us up, we are called to serve. Her service was as the woman of the house, and to serve the guests. And so she served. It’s not a demeaning service, any more than making coffee for the homeless, or feeding the prostitute, or picking up kids from sports. It is holy service. It’s what our response is supposed to be. We respond with service. We extend God’s helping hand to another in service.
Jesus can move on and preach the good news, heal people, heal some more and move on again, because he’s touched us. It’s our turn to respond in diakonia, in holy service to others.
Amen.
