Stuck in Capernaum

Mark 1:29-39 presents an interesting scenario. Peter’s mother-in-law was in bed a fever and because of that, she was considered “unclean.” Now “unclean” didn’t mean dirty; most people back then were. It did it mean diseased, but only to an extent. "Unclean" meant that a person was ritually impure, but it goes a bit deeper than that.

A ritually impure person was totally cut off from society and deprived of any useful function. This was why ancient healers focused differently than modern doctors:  their goal wasn’t the healing of an illness, but full restoration of the afflicted person to a valued place in society.

Back to the story...

In Capernaum word gets around and the folks come to receive individual restoration. Jesus seems to gladly oblige but something in the story don’t seem quite right and we soon see why. Later, Jesus retreats to “recharge and this is where the tension develops. The disciples stumble in and ask what he’s doing.  They beg him to come back; Capernaum LOVES him! But he doesn’t; it’s time to leave Capernaum behind. He knows his vocation lies elsewhere.

This is the season of Epiphany. We get “epiphany” from the Greek word for “manifestation.” So… what are we manifesting? What are we doing each Sunday? Ah, well the answer is easy: we’re worshiping God, right? But is that enough?  Hardly. Full worship demands more. So here’s a question: when we worship, are we really worshiping, or staying back in Capernaum? There’s a cost if we are: loss of vocation

What Capernaums might be seducing us into complacency?  here’s a host of such things that can hold us back: things that we cling to for dear life; predictable, “sure” things with no risk; the “good old days” (not always that good); or relying on obsolete methods to solve modern problems. The items on this list can be endless but they have this in common: they lull us into standing still and that can be spiritually deadening.

This third little passage from Mark 1 is then about two things: our vocation; and, what and with whom do we share it. Jesus shows us plainly. He says:

Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.

In other words:

Time to move on…THAT’S WHY I’M HERE!

His work in Capernaum was done. Although the folks in Capernaum didn’t realize it, he had restored their community to full purpose or vocation. In fact only Peter’s nameless mother-in-law seems to “get it”:

The fever left her and she began to serve them.

Strange as it sounds, she was restored to her vocation. You see, for her time, it was the only vocation to which a woman could aspire. Gratefully, things have changed!

She’s a model for us. She shows that healing means full restoration. This story invites us to our own restoration and to rediscover our vocation. But then we might wonder with whom we should share this vocation. From Jesus’ example, we can discern that information by drawing back; praying; listening; and sharing. 

We may have to let go of the past if it no longer serves us, drop old ways of doing things or stop living in our memories. Easier said than done, right? Jesus gives us the simple key. We turn our gaze away from our Capernaums, become restored and reclaim our vocation trusting that the Holy Spirit will direct us to the right audience.  

What is our vocation? Exactly what Jesus’ was: heal; proclaim the good news of the Reign of God and then move on.

THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE!