In today's reading from Mark we see the glory of God as Jesus goes about using his energies, power to love and cure those around him. Miracles. This seems almost nothing like the Pentateuch which I have just read through at breakneck speed to keep up with my classmates. There seems to be repetition upon repetition upon repetition of stories, census and rules. A few things become apparent and one is that in Deuteronomy, Moses is repeating everything yet again and trying to impart on this Jewish nation all they need to know as they arrive in the promised land. Moses knows he will not be there so he wants to be sure he goes over it all - again. Moses wants to give a last burst of energy to imparting all his wisdom imparted by God for his beloved people. No small task. In the mix of all these stories are miracles, professions of faith and real life stories and situations played out.
The similarities then are miracles and the need to impart important information to the faithful. Jesus is always telling parables and setting straight ( no pun intended ) the real intent of passages from Hebrew Scriptures and the prophets which Jesus sees fit to repeat, honour and explain.
This reminded of something that I ran across in my genealogy work. I have a letter in my possession from my Grandmother who died before I ever knew her. My grandmother died of TB when my own mom was only 17 years old. Knowing she was going to die, she wrote a letter to her three daughters with sage advice and the wisdom she wanted to impart before she herself departed. It is a very touching and forthright letter of love. My Grandmother tried to get all the information in there that she could because it was important for good living.
Years ago, a pastor asked each of us to bring a picture of ourselves to church, preferably a picture of us as our much, much younger self. Bordering perhaps on psychoanalysis he lead a meditation the next Sunday about talking to our younger selves. What information would we like to impart? What do we want to tell our younger self, forgive them for something? Let them know how loved they are? A very interesting meditation.
The common thread to me is imparting knowledge, love and wisdom. It is something we all want to do for others we love and for ourselves. It happens in the secular world and especially perhaps in the realm of spirituality and religion.
In the secular realm, one of the reasons that I write this blog is to impart knowledge, wisdom, hope and love for my LGBTQ siblings. Sure, everyone needs to know that they are loved because after all, it is true. But there is a uniquely wonderful thing about being gay and it is not always celebrated. Sometimes we are demonized, marginalized and hated. I want to impart the love that God has for us too, especially us. I hope this volume of work and thought is not hurried like Deuteronomy. I hope it is not my parting voice to those whom I love. I do want it to be a voice of love and hope for people who are challenged by the ignorance of the world, who have erroneously experienced hate in the name of God.
Know you are enormously loved by your Creator my gentle and wonderful siblings.
Mark 5:21-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.’ So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ’ He looked all round to see who had done it.But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
No comments:
Post a Comment