Caring Community

Text: Mark 1:29-39

Sometimes what we do accidentally tells the truth about who we are. When I first crafted a worship package in April 2020, I wanted to create a title that would capture people’s attention. At that time, I attended a webinar called, Gracious Community in a No-Touch World. I thought I could borrow the title with a slight change to reflect more of who we are as a church. So, I put “Caring Community in a No-Touch World” as a title for our worship package. I have not changed the title ever since April 2020. Why? Partly because the world has not changed, partly because I believe in the power of repetition, and partly because I just forgot to change it. After several months, some people began to comment on the title - how it rings true to them. 

Hospitable, generous, and caring. These are some of the words we can use to describe who we are as a church. Among those three, caring is perhaps the strongest trait. It is what makes two other traits – hospitable and generous - possible. That characteristic wasn’t built overnight or by only a handful of people. A caring community is made up of so many caring individuals who are wiling to help, support, and accompany others with kindness, respect, and affection. Caring is contagious. Those who have received it will likely pass it on to others with no strings attached. Think about those who cared for you when you were growing up or in times of need. You know what it’s like to be in a place of loneliness or pain. You know the life-giving energy that comes with a genuine care. You understand that everyone deserves to be seen and heard no matter who they are. So, you begin to pay attention to those around you, expanding the circle of your relationships continuously. Caring requires a constant effort to come out of our own shells. There is no room for caring if we stay self-involved and self-interested. Caring is the work of God through us. While caring for others, we can learn more about the boundless love of God. But despite the significance of caring, the recognition of care often takes a backseat. We don’t give enough credit to those who care for others either in their profession or in their personal lives. I wonder why. Is it because the work of care happens behind the scenes? Or is it because we tend to take things that are most essential in life – such as garbage pick-up or child minding - for granted?

We see the same pattern in today’s story. The one who cares for others by serving them is given no name while all the others who receive the care are given names. Simon’s mother-in-law was just in bed with a fever. But as soon as she is healed, she gets up and begins to serve her guests. Why in the world is it that no one in the house questions her role as the only caregiver? No one said to her, you’ve been sick in bed, maybe you should be resting and let someone else make the food! One can argue that she provides hospitality to Jesus and his friends out of gratitude. But as someone who came out of a patriarchal culture, I can tell that she was expected to serve. 

When I was growing up, I rarely saw my mother sitting with the rest of the family for a meal. Standing behind everyone at the table, she made sure that all of us had what we needed. She waited until my grandparents finished their meal and then she would eat. It hurts me to think that no one in the household questioned her role as the server while enjoying their food. 

I’m equally disturbed by the fact the woman in today’s gospel story is given no name, other than the label, mother-in-law of Simon Peter, and yet she is one of the most prominent and influential leaders of the early Christian community. She is not only following the example of Jesus by serving others, but also plays the role of an angel. The Greek word for “service” is “diakonia”. Mark used the same word both for the service the woman did for her guests, and for the service the angels did for Jesus in the wilderness. That alone gives us enough reason why we must take the work of caring seriously: it is the work of the Holy Spirit through us. It is the work of angels. So it is that, the mother-in-law deserves to be called one of the first disciples. 

She is, however, seldom mentioned in teaching and preaching in church. Sometimes what we do by accident tells us the truth about who we are. By omitting her name, and ignoring her role, we have uncovered the chasm between where the work of God is happening and where the church leadership is engaging. No wonder the church, as a whole, has suffered from bureaucracy by holding on to power without sharing it with everyone else. Those in Simon’s house made up the early Christian community – and these leaders of the church all failed to recognize how God is present in the work of care. They were willing to receive the care, but not the caregiver. We’re happy our garbage gets picked up, but we don’t invite the garbage man in for dinner.

So, where do we go from here? What does this story from the gospels say to us? The good news is that by acknowledging our failures, we can work toward restoration and wholeness. We can do that by doing exactly the reverse of what those in Simon’s house did. We must not take anything or anybody for granted. We must examine our own cultures, asking who is not seen or whose voice is not heard, and why. We will say thank you to those who have served and are serving without recognition. We will honour the work of care, and all those who have been involved in it. We will acknowledge each of them, by listening to them and learning from them. While caring for one another and others, we will meet God anew, who is constantly caring for the whole creation. Turns out, a caring community is not only who we are as a church, but also our deepest calling. Thank you for the work of care you do and being part of such a caring community.