Bonnie, our Rector, preached about how Mark's is the least pretty of the four Gospels, that the language is simpler and more straightforward. She spoke about the time in which this book is believed to have been written, about 30-40 years after the crucifixion. Written for a group of Christians under persecution from the Roman empire. That is why the language is so straightforward. That is why, in Mark's Gospel, when Jesus is dying on the cross he says "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" In this book of the bible, Jesus is obviously human, and in pain. Mark wants to make clear to the people he wrote for, that God knows pain and lived it through Jesus.
I mention all of this because what she said next smacked me right upside the head.
She said, and I quote "In Mark's Gospel, God comes to us as a savior whose weapon is love and whose message is to every single person who feels discarded, excluded, or ignored ... Mark makes painfully clear that this isn't the complete story this is the beginning of the story - for it is completely dependent upon us who hear these words to then live these words - so that others may know these words."
The bold emphasis is mine.
In my new effort to reduce stress and meditate daily I am using the mantra, Hear, Live, Know and thinking about Jesus, that radical peacemaker, lover of the lepers and prostitutes and the homeless and drug addicts. I focus on trying to make my weapon of choice love and patience. I breathe in and out and say, Hear, Live, Know. I am thankful to have a place to go each week that reminds me that there are people in pain, in need of love and a smile, and maybe even a meal. I am thankful to be a part of that group who if nothing else, remembers these people. I breathe in and breathe out and hope that I can see, really see the people in pain and that I can live in such a way that they will feel God's weapon of love through my life.
1 comments:
Beautiful. I love you.
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