Gathering - Mark 1

Gathering

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Sermon based upon Mark 1:29-39, Psalm 147, and Isaiah 40:21-31

Opening Prayer.

“Have you not heard? Have you not known?” from Isaiah is a great expression that helps to set the tone for what we see in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus cures and raises Simon's mother-in-law. The town gathers and why?

An observation of Mark’s gospel is that the descriptions are simpler than in the other Gospels.  That isn’t to say this is less, but it gives the opportunity for us to dress the text with how we respond to it.  

As we mentioned last week about the “unclean spirit,” we have to consider our own ideas of cleanliness and how we might use that to keep us from doing God’s work.  In this moment, Jesus goes to the woman with a fever to be with her, and Jesus lifts her. Think of all the health workers today.

Jesus restores her and raises her. Jesus restores her vision of discipleship.  Incidentally, we talked about that in confirmation.  Discipleship has three principal elements: joy, commitment and cost. For the woman, she exhibits the forms of discipleship in that she serves – joyful thanks, commitment to Jesus and cost to serve.  Jesus, later in Mark, will say I “did not come not to be served but to serve.”  She serves not just because people were hungry but because it is what Jesus did. Jesus served, and thus, she serves. Jesus shows us that proper ministry is about service that gives life from misery and death!  

Ah! And you wonder why crowds appeared?

As Professor Joy J Moore says, ministry and church is “not about what I get but my response because I have received.” This Christian restoration to life and service calls to us as followers to call to others because we don’t need to hoard that love – just for ourselves. Share it and let God reveal to us – through us. This is perhaps a reason why the scriptures specifies to us not to make images of God because God wants to reveal in God’s own terms, own image and own ways – in us. 

Thus if we respond by revealing the dramatic blessing that has been received in us, people will know and may even question why our hearts are glowing so much because we let God reveal.  When they question, you will be able to tell them “Have you not heard? Have you not known” the good news and the wonderful work that God has done.

Then the word gets out, and people want to be a part of that. Then the whole town gathers and brings people to Jesus.  This speaks to the magnetism of Jesus; that not only what he says but what he does.  The question for us how do we speak in a way that draws people in and makes them feel a part of this community.  How do we lift people so that they feel whole, free and valued?  

We mentioned before of the need to be a church that expresses God’s love and God’s will so evidentially that others cannot mistake God is here. When we express that revelation in ourselves and then together as a Church community, amazing things happen. People want to come and be a part of it.

That is part of gathering and receiving the sacrament in that we share and lift each other in the presence of the One with us.  When we do that, great things happen to us and for us.  There is something deeper than us and bigger than us. There is One who lifts us and is ready to offer a hand.  

Finally, Jesus reminds us to take time for oneself in “deserted places” because we need time collect and to re-energize. I don’t have to do all the things and be everywhere.  I can be in peace and rest.  That is one of the greatest lessons we can hear in a world that moves at break-neck speed and busies our minds with all sorts of things. Time for ourselves (away from all the hustle and bustle, away from busy minds) - Time is needed so that we collect ourselves and restore ourselves. 

So the next time you take time off, unplug and quiet your mind. Make it a practice for the whole family. We make a point in our home that Sundays are empty of things to do (or places to be) so that we can recharge and reset. 

Jesus restored the woman and the divine within her.  Jesus gave her peace and purpose. Jesus gave her peace; she gave back. Jesus took time for himself. In the same way, Jesus calls followers -  calling upon us. Calling us to task and calling us to recharge.

Are we listening? Are we ready to take the hand of Jesus and be lifted?

When you do, you might be asking those around you, “Have you not heard? Have you not known?”

“Praise the Lord!”