The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
Growing up in a house of 7 kids, there were 2 types of kids at the dinner table: Those that took forever to eat their food and the more superior (better looking) siblings that crushed their food in minutes.
If it was after lunch, you already know that I was thinking about what was for dinner (I still do that). Yet when dinner time finally arrived, I would be the first one finished. Yes, it was quite impressive, but at the same time, I didn’t give enough time to enjoy the intricate and delicate spices that my parents carefully placed in the meal. They spent hours preparing it and perfecting it — but I was too busy getting seconds.
It is possible to do the same with Scripture. Are we speeding through Scripture and missing the gifts that the Father has purposefully placed for us? This Sunday’s Gospel is packed with so many specific moments that I almost missed verse 31:
“He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.”
This miracle is quick and doesn’t give us too many details. We got the SparkNotes version. Yet, this moment was a life-changing encounter for Simon’s mother-in-law. She encountered Christ, was healed, and responded in service to Christ. Nothing was ever the same for her. It’s so easy to skim pass this and think “that’s nice for her” and continue into the next verses. But as I continue to walk with Jesus, I’m beginning to find that there is intimacy in the details.
If you were to meet Simon’s mother-in-law in Heaven, what would she say was her favorite moment? How would she describe it? What did she tell her friends? Would she go into great detail to explain the strange joy she felt as she heard someone knocking? Would she break into tears as she describes what it feels like to be smiled upon by Jesus? Or would she jump up and down as she proclaims the unique lightness of her heart when Jesus lifted her out of her woundedness?
We, of course, do not know exactly what she would say (at least for now) but it is safe to say a life-changing encounter with Jesus left an (ever)lasting memory. What’s even crazier than her encounter is that Holy Spirit wants to share this specific encounter with us. He placed it there so it could move our hearts to greater worship and intimacy with the Father.
After inviting Holy Spirit into your prayer, I encourage you to take this verse and imagine yourself in her position. Imagine the one thing that you have been asking Jesus to heal. Whether it is a wound, struggle, habit, etc., imagine Jesus entering your room and lifting you up.
Don’t be afraid to notice the details: what he says, how he looks at you, what he is wearing. Invite, trust, and be open to the Holy Spirit. Be ready to encounter the living God and cherish these moments. The Lord wants to work through your imagination — He gave it to you, after all.
Frankie Garcia has spent the past five years working with charities of all shapes and sizes and has traveled around the world capturing photos, videos, and stories to help social impact nonprofits tell their stories in new and compelling ways. You can find him either skateboarding, hiking, or talking to strangers (most likely a combination). You can find out more about him here.