Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany 2024

Mark 1:29-39

Rev. Neli Miranda 

This Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Jesus continues in Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. Some weeks ago, he began his ministry announcing, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near…”   What a meaningful message for those who lived under the kingdom of Rome and the Jewish authorities’ tyranny! Both Roman and Jewish rulers had produced poverty, despair, anguish, many diseases, and ailments among the people.

Today, Jesus continues his proclamation in Capernaum, a Galilean city. There, Jesus makes God present among the desperate people who suffer from different illnesses. Jesus does not proclaim an ethereal presence but a reality that transforms peoples’ lives in all ways. Last Sunday, Mark told us that Jesus’ first actions in Capernaum were aimed at liberating people from the authoritarian teachings of the Scribes who wanted to keep them under control.  Jesus then continues to liberate suffering bodies and brings total restoration and abundant life to them. He heals bodies and minds as a sign that the Kingdom of God is among the people.

When we read the Gospel accounts, we learn that there were many sick, possessed, and broken people in Jesus’ time, but this is not surprising due to the prevailing dehumanizing system which oppressed the people. In addition, Jewish religious teachings affirmed that any sickness or disability was a sign of God’s punishment for having committed a sin. Therefore, sick people were stigmatized and discriminated; some were even considered untouchable and lived in isolation.

There were many sick people in Capernaum, and Peter’s mother-in-law was one of them. Today, we read that after attending the synagogue, liberating a man, and teaching with authority, Jesus came to Peter and Andrew’s house. Immediately, Mark lets us know that Peter’s mother-in-law is in bed with a fever. She is the senior woman in the household, but due to her illness she cannot fulfill her role as hostess and serve the guests the meal.   Approaching her, Jesus takes her by the hand and lifts her up… “Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them” (1,31).  

This woman has received Jesus’ humanizing touch, and now she is able to serve in her family community. Jesus has restored her, and she recovers her dignity becoming the first deacon in Jesus’ community. Mark uses the term “deacon” (diákonos) to refer to her as a servant in the community.  “Deacon” means “servant”, and all who served in the early Christian communities were called deacons and considered important leaders. Jesus also called himself a deacon.

When the people of Capernaum realized the healing presence of God among them, they brought to Jesus “all who were sick or possessed with demons” (1,32). Jesus had been working all day at the synagogue and in Peter’s home, but now he is willing to meet with the suffering people and bring them restoration. “And he cured many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons” (1,34). How many families celebrated their beloved ones’ restoration that evening in Capernaum! 

 Notice that it was the community that brought the sick and possessed people to Jesus. They wanted all of them to find liberation and restoration. How often do we take the suffering to Jesus’ healing presence? How often do we visit them and pray for them?

Dear sisters and brothers, the actions of Peter’s mother-in-law tell us that when people are liberated or healed, they live a dignified life and play an active role in their family, community of faith, and society. Thus, when we live a dignified life, we all become deacons and contribute to build wellbeing in our community.

There are many people who suffer physically and mentally from different diseases and illnesses. We live in a world ruled by an inhuman, oppressive, and sick system where many value money and possessions more than life. Like in Jesus’ time, today many people get sick, suffer, and die because they lack access to basic foods and cannot afford basic medical services or buy medicine. What is more, this system contributes to people suffering from anxiety, stress, anguish, depression, or alarming deviant behavior. Certainly, we need liberation from this dehumanizing, sick system! All we want is Jesus’ healing touch! Why not come to Capernaum today to feel his healing presence?

May we, as Jesus’ disciples, bring the healing touch to our suffering and sick world. May we feel Jesus’ encouragement to lay our hand on the sick, so they may be restored! Amen.