The mother-in-law of Simon (Peter) was sick in bed with a raging fever. When Jesus learned about her distressed state, he ‘took her by the hand and helped her up’. He broke the taboo about physical contact with a woman not his relative because he wanted to holistically heal her dis-ease.

Simon’s mother-in-law didn’t need an aspirin and a cup of tea. She felt quarantined, isolated, and needed a hand reassuring her of sociable relationships. Jesus overcame her fever and her dis-ease with the world.

At every Mass we exchange a physical gesture at the greeting of Peace. This quite often overcomes being ill-at-ease with a family member or just with the neighbour in the pew. We need to take that symbolic action into the world. For somebody, it may be the most touching thing we ever do.

We could pause for a moment to identify that person who needs us to reach out, to take their hand and help them up.