On this Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, we continue to follow Jesus as he visits with Peter and his family. Peter's mother-in-law is sick and Jesus cures her, and we hear of her miraculous recovery and her immediate call to serve. We also will reflect on Jesus' early morning of prayer...and explore how his prayer and his ability to heal are closely connected.
Our Scripture passage is found in the Gospel according to Mark. You may find the Scripture lesson by selecting the following link: (Mark 1:29-39).
For continuing study, reflect on these questions (found in the study guide below):
The theme of our Scripture lesson this week is: prayer and healing. Spend some time in reflection about moments in your life when you have felt especially close to God through prayer. How is prayer helpful to you in your daily life?
After reading the "WHAT..." paragraph in the guide below, reflect and respond to the following questions: why was prayer helpful to Jesus; why do you think Jesus sought solitude for some of his moments of prayer; and what do you imagine were some things sought to prayer about?
After reading the "WHERE..." paragraph below, reflect on the idea that Peter's mother-in-law was able to clearly hear the invitation from God to serve others, while the disciples struggled to hear this message for many months. How do you think Peter's mother-in-law was able to overcome her selfish desires and put others first?
After reading the "SO WHAT..." paragraph, how do you think the "power of God's grace" is shown in the Scripture assigned for today?
After reading the "NOW WHAT..." paragraph below, reflect on your own experiences in your Christian community today - how do you see examples of witnessing to Christ's love in the world working to extinguish the evil and brokenness we find in our world?
