Texts for Sunday July 19: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians
2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
There are a lot of details to which I must attend before our van
heads to Detroit Wednesday (which in terms of this post is “today”). I think
this focused yet scattered state has me thinking in bits and pieces about these
texts and so I share some bits and pieces.
The first thing that jumps out in the Gospel is that Jesus invites
his disciples to rest. This is after they’ve been on the road – a couple weeks
ago we read that he sent them out in pairs to heal people. They have been hard
at it; rest is a good idea. I suspect this may be a scripture we all need to
take to heart “Come away awhile and rest”. Throughout my professional life I
have seen the level of busyness in people’s lives increase; first
parents were harried and hurried, then gradually children’s schedules filled to
overflowing, then parents’ lives became even more hectic. We are a society that
needs to go away and rest awhile. Commentator and professor, Dr. David Lose
points out that in the psalm for today – the 23rd - verse two says
“makes me lie down in green pastures”. We are resistant; we need to be
commanded to rest.
The second thing that jumps out at me is that the disciples don’t
rest. Neither does Jesus. Before they even get to their retreat center the
crowd has rushed over there to welcome them ashore. I don’t think I’d
have been very friendly at that point – I mean, give me a break! But
Jesus had compassion on them and began to teach them many things. Wow.
Check out the GIFT post on Sunday to reflect on your need for
rest.
Another thing from the Gospel: what is the big jump between v. 34
and v. 53? It’s the feeding of the 5000. The compassion Jesus had for the crowd
extended to their stomach. “You feed them” he told those disciples who did not
get to rest as they expected. After feeding them, Jesus dismissed the crowd.
And they left this time. Jesus’ compassionate feeding finally filled them.
My final random thoughts land on the Ephesians text. This was the
theme text for the Youth Gathering 3 years ago – Citizen’s with the
Saints. The author reminds us that there is no longer a difference
between Jews and non-Jews. Jesus has broken down the dividing wall; Jesus
is peace for those who are far off and those who are near; those who were
strangers are now citizens with the saints. At the youth gathering this
year, as disciples of Jesus, we are being challenged to “Build bridges, bear
burdens, break chains, and bring hope”. Amen.
Just so you know, I’ve penciled rest into my calendar for the
Monday & Tuesday after we get back. And during the week in Detroit I will
get moments….as in this quote from Etty Hillesum, a young Jewish diary writer
in the time of the Holocaust:
Sometimes the most important thing in a whole
day is the rest we take between two deep breaths or the turning inwards in
prayer for five short minutes.