Feb 04, 2024 |
Love is a verb
| The Rev. Melanie W. J. SlaneLove is a verb
Jesus came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. I almost asked Deacon Gary to take a long pause after that verse in our gospel today, so all the women in the room could have a collective eye roll together. Please.
The only woman spoken of in the beginning of Mark is sick and laid up in bed, and given no name but servant. When I first read the story, I did pause. I was reading the lesson to my husband in our home, and thankfully he's still alive today. Because his eye roll matched mine. Right on cue. I think my first response was, Ugh, let this lady take a nap.
She's obviously tired. I was more than a little irritated at our gospel today. Here we go. Another biblical lesson of woman, know your place. I could feel my own temperature rising up in solitude with my stricken sister. And then I remembered