The Gospel of Mark 1:29-39
After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.
For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
Let Us Pray:
Ever living God, our creator and redeemer, you love us and know us better than we know ourselves. With a word, you created all things and so we pray that you will hear the words of your children as we pray; giving thanks to you for your church, the world and its people. This we pray in your Name. Amen
The Epistle, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 sets the stage for Mark’s Gospel for this week.
As we read this week’s Gospel, we can see that Simon and Andrew were evangelist. They went with Jesus as he traveled throughout Galilee. As Jesus traveled his ministry involved the return of those cut off from community to a full role in the community. Those who have been seriously ill or hurt in our own time will understand the joy of simply being back as a participant in the everyday functions of communal life. There is nothing ordinary about life in the community. Jesus wields the power of God Almighty to bring about participation, it is God’s will for us to be serving in community with others. Right now, it seems difficult to function as the group we have been used to. We are still a community but one that interacts differently. We need to listen to God’s words and understand that by keeping the faith we will be able to return to the community we were. That was why Simon’s mother-in-law needed to be healed, so she could get back to being part of the community that was important to her and performing what she felt were her duties.
As Jesus continues His healing the whole town begins to define who Jesus is, he is a miracle worker. Jesus begins to be put in a box by those who see him in action; he is put into the box of their choice, and they begin to relate to him in a particular way that best meets their own, specific needs. But was this really what Jesus wanted? His goal was to spread the word of God and God’s Kingdom, He wanted to preach the good news.
He understood that to win others to repent and understand about the Kingdom of God, He had to preach. He had to tell people about the Kingdom. Now it is our job to share the content of the gospel and share the good news by following Him. People will not be converted by watching our lives alone, without hearing the good news about Christ. But what Paul tells us here is that we should remove all cultural barriers that would needlessly distract or offend those we are trying to reach. We do not want our outward appearance or political views to be the issue. We want the gospel to be the issue.
A final note, if Jesus came into our town, our city, would we approach Him and ask Him to heal us? What is the healing for which we would hope? Would it be a physical illness, a spiritual need? Would we ask Jesus to heal and restore someone we love? Would we ask Jesus to heal our world and cleanse us of our need to control or hurt one another? I invite you to reflect on the healing that you desire for yourself and our world. God will hear your prayer! You may not get an immediate response but trust that God is at work. God will respond! How patient will we be?
Pastor Bob
Reflections by Bob 