Lockdown and Gospel - Day 29, February 7

(How does today’s Gospel speak to me during this lockdown? Allow me to share a humble reflection.)

Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. (Mark 1:30-31)

The prone position to which Simon’s mother-in-law is reduced represents everything that drags humans down and oppresses them. The verb that Mark uses to designate her healing—he “lifted her up”—is one of the verbs that will be used to designate the resurrection of Jesus: he is “risen” from the dead. The standing position that characterizes this woman after her recovery represents her renewed vitality, her autonomy, her ability to engage in life.

This lockdown has the capacity to lay me low. I tend to stay in bed too long, to idle too much on the sofa or in my big chair. My mind seems downcast, oppressed somehow. Jesus wants to give me his hand to help me get up, to arise. He wants to breathe his Spirit of life and generosity in me so that I might remain lucid, engaged and active, even in the midst of this challenging time.

Abba, Father, thank you for your son Jesus who comes to my help to lift me out of my lethargy. Don’t let me to be satisfied with my downcast state. Instead, awaken in me the desire to share here and now in the vitality of your Son’s resurrection. Help me to choose life every day.

Amen.