Word to the Wise
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 - Wednesday in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
[Heb 10:11-18 and Mark 4:1-20]On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables....... [Mark]
My principal ministry is itinerant preaching. This ministry takes me into a great variety of churches, retreat centers and other venues. I was in campus ministry for many years and that ministry had me preaching in student apartments, outdoor parks, and retreat house lawns! But I must admit I've never tried to preach from a floating boat with the audience standing on the shore! Yes, I've been to the Holy Land (1988) and saw one of the places that guides identify as the location of Jesus' boat preaching, and I could see how it was done, but it still would have been quite a challenge. The gospel tells us that Jesus "sat down," which would be the position of a teacher (cf. the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:1). I suspect that sitting down was also the wisest thing to do! I cannot imagine standing up in a fishing boat and trying to preach or teach unless that boat was exceptionally large and I had a portable public address system! Every gesture would be dangerous. As the song in the Broadway musical, GUYS AND DOLLS, puts it, "Sit down, sit down, sit down, you're rockin' the boat!" I, for one, would be too afraid of falling overboard! The nearest I've come to it was preaching on a cruise ship once! (1986)
The parable that Jesus presents from the boat on this occasion also shows preaching in various circumstances with results that vary according to the circumstances! Our modern and scientific GPS guided plowing is far removed from this parable! Nevertheless, it was (and still is) important for all Christians to realize that our witness to the faith and our preaching may meet with mixed results. The important thing is that we continue to "sow the seed" and leave it to the Holy Spirit to handle the results. Using a boat as a pulpit is an ingenious approach, and the parable is a vivid image that the audience would have recognized from their culture. Bringing the challenges of venue, audience and imagery together is the task of all preachers. I think I'll leave the boat method to Jesus, however! AMEN