Lectio Devina is a way to read Bible and pray. It involves reading a passage multiple times, diving further into contemplation or meditation and conversation with God with each read.
As I have found the past year, the act of writing and externally processing helps me to get traction from thoughts that would otherwise just be spinning wheels. Not wanting to go nowhere, I took some notes when reflecting on the readings for this coming Sunday.
Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time
“Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.”
Mark 1:29-31
First Read
“Immediately” and “she waited on them“
Second Read
This passage is showing me the power of intercessory prayer, or praying on behalf of others. It shows how important it is to ask for help. Jesus knew that Simon’s mother-in-law was sick, but the disciples still knew to ask Jesus to direct his attention more specifically to this cause by immediately telling him about her. I would imagine that they trusted that he could heal, yet did not demand if it was not his will to do so.
They ask, Jesus heals.
Who might we need to ask God to look after?
Next, I notice that she waited on them as soon as she was better. This is shows the extent of the healing was 100%. It had immediate affect. It also implies that Jesus and the disciples allowed themselves to be served by her who was just ill. They were so confident in this healing that no one objected saying, “No! It’s okay. You were just ill. Take it Easy!” the way we probably would today in the awkwardness of being served. Jesus received service from this woman. Meanwhile, I have a hard time receiving service from wait staff at a restaurant when I am even paying them for it!
How can I grow in reception of others’ acts of service?
Lastly, her service is not just a repayment to Jesus for his healing. Jesus is not transactional as if she “owed him one”. I imagine that He healed her knowing that her healing would be in service of the greater Kingdom. The disciples received her service into the night as they brought more people to Jesus so that he could heal them, curing disease and driving out evil. Everyone has a way to serve the mission, whether that is through direct evangelization or through supporting those who go. In my time as a college missionary, I was able to be out in the world serving in a full-time capacity. Now, I serve where I can in my community, but I also have the chance to support others who are actively on mission full-time and are thus more free to go and make a difference.
“When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons”
Mark 1:32-38
Who can we support to go serve God?
Third Read
In a way, the more I reflect on this story, the more I identify with the mother-in-law.
- I am in need of healing
- As I heal, I can grow in service to Jesus
- As I serve Jesus, I can watch him do the work for souls
In the end, all of the work for souls is done by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. I was reminded of this fact when I heard a friend who was a guest on a podcast called Every Knee Shall Bow where he talks about his time working for the Mission. On that page, they picked out this awesome quote from the podcast.
“We can talk strategies, but it’s really the Lord that does the heavy lifting. He’s the first mover, and so much of what I get to do is work alongside him, and see him working.”
Anthony on Every Knee Shall Bow
This podcast combined with this Sunday’s passage are a good reminder to me of intercessory prayer. Praying on behalf of others intentionally does so much good. Ask Therese of Lisieux who is patroness of missions without ever leaving her convent.
Interceding is like the opposite of scrolling social media. Rather than looking at snapshots of other lives and feeling negative that you aren’t experiencing it, we can wish people well and ask God for good things for them. This positive sentiment raises the spirits of both you and those you’re praying for. It could even be possible that God will help them so that the help they receive can compound into more service to others.
Action
I need to get back into a habit of keeping a list of names that I want to pray for, keeping in mind what God might want for those people.