Word to the Wise
Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - Wednesday in the 1st Week in Ordinary Time
[Heb 2:14-18 and Mark 1:29-39]When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come." So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee. [Mark]
In these words from the gospel scripture today from the Gospel According to Mark, we have several important features of Jesus' ministry. First of all, Jesus'power to heal does not depend on the faith of the one being healed. Just before the quotation, Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law without there being any mention of her faith (or Peter's, for that matter). Jesus is new on the scene and people would not have had the chance to encounter him in faith.
A second feature shows up in Jesus' refusal to allow demons to speak because they would know who he is. This "messianic secret" will appear over and over again because the Gospel According to Mark has an "agenda" to the effect that no one really understands who Jesus is until they come to terms with his death and resurrection. So, many who benefit from Jesus' healing and exorcisms are told not to talk about it! The variety of expectations of a messiah at the time could lead to trouble before Jesus' ministry could develop!
A third feature is that Jesus prays! His ministry is based on his relationship to his Father! The bottomless needs of the people have to give way to taking care of the preacher from time to time - something that many pastors can easily forget!
Last, but not least, Jesus' ministry cannot be confined to one place or one group of people. Nobody "owns" Jesus or can deny his power to serve or save someone else.
All these features will challenge us as we read through the Gospel According to Mark. What are we to make of this man, Jesus? AMEN