If my prayers are answered, am I prepared to serve the Lord as a way of giving thanks to God? This is the question that today’s reading makes me ask myself.

Jesus and his disciples probably had a tough day in the synagogue. It is early in Jesus’ ministry and he is just beginning to make himself known to the public. There is already opposition but there is also growing acclaim because of his healing and preaching. So when they get back to Simon’s house, they are most likely hoping that someone will provide some hospitality to ease the tension.

So when they find that Simon’s mother-in-law is suffering from a high fever, they probably realize that this isn’t going to happen. Someone in the house is sick; that takes priority over entertaining guests. So, even after caring for others all day, Jesus offers one more act of care to end his day. He heals Simon’s mother-in-law.

What happens next is rather extraordinary. The woman doesn’t take some time to rest and regain her strength. He gets up “immediately” and begins to serve them. We could speculate that this is a sign of how complete and effective the healing was or we could even be a bit suspicious and wonder if she was healed just so that boys could have their dinner. I think the most meaningful interpretation of her action is this: serving Jesus is the proper response to the healing power of God.

How many times have I prayed for something and then simply moved on with my life after that prayer was answered, as if I hadn’t just prayed for that exact thing? Many times. The lesson that Simon’s mother-in-law teaches us is that serving Jesus directly is the proper response to prayers answered. The son of God walked into her home for dinner but we have no less an opportunity to serve Jesus directly. He tells us, “what you did for one of these least ones, you did for me.”