Burdens shared – Read Matt 8:14-17
Contemplation
We are coming to Peter’s house. It’s not a big place, but there’s room for the fisherman and his family. We can smell the watery, weedy smell of the lake nearby and the leftovers from the fish in the nets. There’s also a smell of sickness here, and an older woman lies on a little bed inside. It’s Peter’s wife’s mother, sweaty and hot with fever.
Jesus doesn’t seem worried about the sickness. He just walks in and touches her. Suddenly she feels better! She is so grateful that she gets up and (with no sign there’s been anything wrong) gets up to look after the guest. Now there are groans, cries, voices, lots of people at the door – all needing healing. Jesus is there for them – but we can tell it isn’t easy. Even as he makes them better, he takes on all of their sicknesses and pains. We feel all the hurt washing from them to him. It is a long, hard day.
Talk to Jesus, Peter’s mother-in-law and some of the people who come around for healing.
What does it mean to take someone’s illness on oneself?
Do I support others who need it?