Word to the Wise
Thursday, January 18, 2007 - SECOND THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
[Hebrews 7:25-8:6 and Mark 3:7-12]He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him!
Imagine that! Jesus needs crowd control! I've been to the place on the Sea of Galilee where "tradition" says he preached from the boat. It's a hillside that slopes down to the water - a kind of natural amphitheater. I'm sure he knew that sound travels well across the water. It was a sort of natural acoustic area! The imagination comes into play. Did he sit down or stand up in the boat? (I'm put in mind of the song in GUYS AND DOLLS: "Sit down, sit down, sit down, you're rocking the boat!") The problem of the crushing crowd is a good reminder of the Incarnation! Word got around quickly and he found himself in a difficult situation. It was a frustrating situation, as we learn several times in the gospels: "You will not believe unless you see a sign....." Too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing! As we get pulled into the gospel experience of Mark, we can join that crowd and hear the challenging preaching. It will not comfort us much in this gospel if we are resistant to "repentance." Jesus will be a challenge by land or by sea! AMEN
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