In the gospel today, Peter’s mother-in-law comes to us as a model of what it means to be an authentic follower of Christ. I wonder how she felt when she realized that her son-in-law, Simon Peter, would have to be away from his family for some time because he needed to be with Jesus and work with him. It must have been difficult for her to see her daughter, Peter’s wife, left alone tending to their family because the breadwinner of the family chose to follow Christ. We were told in the gospel that after Peter’s mother-in-law was cured of her fever, she served Jesus and the disciples right away. After being graced and blessed by God with renewed health and well being, she served Him. This short description of her that we found in the gospel today speaks volumes of her faith and also of her relationship with her family and with Peter. She is a woman of service, obedience and selflessness. In her, we witness an authentic encounter with the Lord that leads to loving service. The joy and fruit of an encounter with Jesus necessarily frees one from being self-centered to becoming other-centered (altruistic). The experience of God’s love can’t be contained from within—it would overflow! It’s contagious!
          When Jesus freed those who were possessed with evil spirits and when he cured those who were sick, they were acts of service that stemmed from his knowledge of who he is and the reason he was sent by the Father to this world. In short, it was an act of obedience to the will of God the Father.  And, ultimately, that obedience and service were powerfully shown to us on the cross.
          God has blessed us in many, many countless ways; he probably has cured us many times physically, emotionally and spiritually. How enthusiastic are we in serving and loving him after we have been bestowed with his graces or after experiencing his healing presence and love within us? Like Peter’s mother in law, are we moved to serve after being “healed” or “graced”? What are the concrete ways in which we show to him that we are indeed grateful for everything that he has done for us? A grateful heart is a joyful heart that beats for loving service.
– Fr. Cary