Sermon in a Bottle

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - B.  "He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up."

When 21st century Christians hear the story of Jesus and Peter's mother-in-law, they focus on the miraculous cure of her fever.  Sometimes they get mad, too, thinking about how the sexist culture forces her to wait on lazy men.  But a 1st century listener sees Jesus affirming the sick woman's dignity (approaches her), treating her with respect (touches her), and healing her (allows her to leave her isolating sick bed and rejoin her family).  Healing, not curing, is what is most important to Jesus.