SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2024 | EPIPHANY - Fifth Sunday After Epiphany (B)

Revised Common Lectionary 2-4-2024: Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Old Testament Isaiah 40:21–31

Psalm Psalm 147:1–11, 20c

New Testament 1 Corinthians 9:16–23

Gospel Mark 1:29–39

Good morning,

It is a last numbered Sunday of After Epiphany! Can you believe it? Transfiguration Sunday is just next week! So let’s make the most of it. Jesus continues his visible ministry in Mark - Just as he left the synagogue, where he taught and cast out a demon, he enters Simon’s and Andrew’s house and cures Simon’s mother-in-law, who was suffering with a fever.

Now fever today, is something to be taken seriously, but doesn’t worry us all that much, save for perhaps a baby or the elderly. In Jesus’ times....without antibiotics, antivirals, or testing swabs, fever could really mean anything and people would try herbal remedies, cooling techniques, bloodletting, and spiritual rituals with....well, mixed results, of course. So for Jesus to just waltz in and remove the fever entirely…what an awesome deed of power from God! And then he casts out more demons and cures more people. And then he goes to have some private time in prayer the following early morning and then they go out on a show and tell preaching tour throughout the region of Galilee. He is far from finished, the mercy tour continues!

Again, we have a dual revelation here - not only verbal, the teachings and proclamations, but also his deeds of power, curing and casting out. They strengthen each other and form a coherent unit - teachings point to God’s love, care, and power and then the deeds of power point back to the teachings. Just like an ideally a Sunday gathering has both the Word and the communion - one points at the other and then together to God.

Jesus met people where they were and treated them with love and compassion - his witness was personal and effective. Paul addressed it in 1 Corinthians as well - he has become all things to all people, so that he might save some. Free of charge and willingly, because of the freedom he was given by God. And in our Lutheran tradition we have it anchored by Luther once and for all - he believed that as freed and redeemed Christians, we are subject to none and servants to all. Just as Jesus did throughout his ministry - he fearlessly ministered to people according to God’s will and often times up against the ruling and powerful people that wanted him gone, because he was exposing their hypocrisy as all powerful people are entrusted the obligation to help and care for others, especially the less fortunate and powerful ones. But as we know from experience, it doesn’t always happen.

I know I say it a lot, but I like how in Plato’s Republic there is the concept that those most suited to lead are the least interested to do so - they see the world for what it is. On the other hand, those that shouldn’t lead desire to lead - for self-validation or for improving one’s station. We can also see it at play in the Bible - we are warned not to desire power and influence and we are given many examples of ways it can corrupt such as David’s seduction of a married woman Bathsheba, which he attempts to cover up with having her husband killed in war. And at the same time, we are encouraged to action - spreading the good word of the Lord through our merciful actions and inspired words, which requires some degree of leadership and influence. This concept of tension between doing good and not desiring power is nothing new and we can see it at play especially in politics.

When I look at the news, I feel like a lot of what is happening right now, the big headlines, is about power and not really about actually helping people and communities - many people of Eagle Pass don’t want the Texas govt to be interfering with the federal border operations as it leads to disruption of their every day lives and they don’t seem to be doing a better job at guarding the border than the actual U. S. Customs and Border Patrol. Populism has been a favorite way to rule for a while now.

We as Christians however are not called to populism - if you read any of Paul’s letters, you know that he didn’t spend the expensive space of the papyrus on sweet talking the congregations he helped to establish - on the contrary, he encouraged them as well as scolded them, which is not a good way to appease anyone, is it. To meet people where they are and serve them is not populism - we are still called to point to God’s truth and justice, which is rarely popular with those with power and influence, in all that we do and say. To proclaim an order of a different kind, where justice for all and care without strings attached reigns. I am not sure you can make too many friends in high places with a message like this! We are freed to rise up above appeasing anyone and help people according to God’s will and not that of the powerful people. Just as Jesus did! Amen.