In the St. Thomas More Church on the campus of St. John’s University, a collection of beautiful stained-glass windows surrounds the place of worship.  In my usual place in the Church, I look across at the Lukan panel of windows and their depiction of the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, and the Resurrection.  Wherever one sits, a rich trove of images gives focus and direction for reflection and prayer.

I find it particularly attractive when the Gospel reading for a given day highlights a particular window.  I feel compelled to draw the community’s attention to the window and its lesson for us.  For me, the visual offers a blessed addition to the verbal.

One of the windows in the Marcan panel in St. Thomas More embraces the story of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law.  The heart of the image has Jesus holding her hand.  We recently heard that story.  Here is the version in Mark:

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her.  He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. (Mk 1:29-31)

The story is little more than three lines, and one finds it towards the very beginning of this Gospel.  In simplicity, it teaches us an important lesson about ministering to others.

Notice:  Peter’s mother-in-law immediately takes up the role of ordinary service after her encounter with Jesus.  The story holds up a clear illustration of the character of a disciple as one who serves the community, and her action receives no particular emphasis.  She simply gets up and begins to wait at table.  And, in doing this, she serves Jesus.

Genuine service is done without celebration or spotlight.  One carries it out humbly for the good of the community and the other.  Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples captures that truth. He puts himself in the role of servant and invites his disciples to follow his example.  When he asks them “Do you know what I have just done?” he is inviting us to think.  Do you know what you are doing in your service?  Are you labouring out of love and with the attitude of one who is in the last place?

The Gospel narrative of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law reminds us how Jesus is drawn to the sick.  His “visit” brings healing into the life of this woman.  (Do our visits have the same result?)  Her return to full strength, in turn, permits this woman to carry out the role of service for those who are guests in her home—including Jesus.

The stained-glass window draws my attention to Jesus holding the hand of this woman.  It can make me think of the different ways that Jesus touches our lives.  How does that touch offer healing and encouragement to us so that we get up from our couches and serve the Lord through his people?  The Gospel passage and the window summon us to the role of active ministry.