2/7
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| snow |
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| the Harlem Meer |
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| standing guard |
It's a winter wonderland again. And Central Park patrolled by squadron of snow men. And it's Super Bowl Sunday and I'm preaching for Beverley Church. Here's what I had to say:
Well, a lot has happened since last we were together. A new President has been inaugurated. An old President has left town. For good. We have seen our sacred halls of government invaded and violated. We’ve had the first covid vaccines roll out and many of us have had out first shot. And the rest of us are still trying to figure out how to get one. I got mine at the 168th street armory track and field facility and the Mets’ CitiField and the Yankees’ Yankee stadium are being used as vaccination facilities and still people I know my own age continue to die of Covid, We just had a big snow storm but our kids didn’t get a snow day. Remember how we’d all wait to hear the official announcement then run outside with our saucers and sleds? Well no snow days anymore. Just another day of “remote learning.” Can’t help but feel something’s been lost there. Last night I had dinner agin with a friend sitting outside in 40’ weather. Almost a year later and we’re still living in coronavirusworld. And still worshipping in virtual reality.
So what’s Jesus been up to lately? Last we saw him, he was in a synagogue, going one in one against a demon who had taken possession of a poor soul’s body. And in today’s passage, Jesus has come to the house of his new followers Simon and Andrew. Simon, by the way, is the one Jesus has come to call by the name of Peter, or just like wrestler turned actor Duane Johnson, the Rock. Or like Sylvester Stallone, Rocky. And Peter’s mother in law is sick. Which among other things, tells us that Peter was actually married. And from this point on, we never hear of Peter’s family again.
Since she’s living with Peter, this poor woman is most likely a widow. And scripture tells us she’s got a fever. Not such a big deal. Not being possessed by a demon or a 12 year flow of blood or leprosy or even blindness. Just a fever. Hmmm, Jesus doesn’t even stop for the results of a Covid test. He just takes her by the hand, lifts her up and the fever leaves her. Now women, notice was happens next…she “began to serve them..” I mean this poor woman is just healed and immediately put back to work. And people keep coming with sick people and people possessed by demons and Jesus keeps taking care of all of them.
When we “lift people up in prayer” we are following Jesus. My rabbi friend reminds me that this is a particularly Christian way of speaking, W take it for granted, but it is rooted in Jesus.
Next morning ,Jesus goes away alone to a deserted place to pray. And his disciples keep looking for him until they find him. And Jesus says, “time to move on.”
Okay, what’s going on here? We just had an inauguration of a President. Here we have the first actions following the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry. On the one hand, it is significant that Jesus’ first healing is a woman. As a widow, one of her society’s most vulnerable people. She doesn’t even get named. That tells us pretty clearly what the focus of Jesus’ ministry is going to be. And as to her “serving,” the word in Greek is diakonos, which is so much more than making a meal and serving it. Peter’s mother in law is the church’s first deacon. A radical idea. On the other hand, as radical as he is, Jesus is still a product of his society. The truly radical thing to have done would have been to say hey Peter, Andrew, go fix your mother in law something to eat. What’s most important to note is that an encounter with Jesus is restorative, it restores her to society, to community, to family. Notice also there’s nothing magical here. Sometimes presence alone can be healing. And never underestimate the power of touch. We as deacons can be instruments of God’s healing just by our presence.
Then the doors are opened and the “whole city” is gathered there. So Mark’s not above a little hyperbole here. But notice…it also says he healed “many,” not “all.” By the time Matthew and Luke tell the same story, they have to turn that “many” into “all.” And he casts out “many” demons and forbid then to speak. When he cast out his first demon last week, it got loud. He got into a shouting match with the demon. It was almost like a contest, who could exorcise who, because Jesus too was possessed, but with the Holy Spirit. Who knows what’s going on here? Perhaps those with bipolar were thought to be demon possessed. Which in a a way is true. Or people who have fallen into alcohol or opioid addiction which takes people aways from their truest selves. Or as one commentator said, perhaps they were simply people who had ben demonized. Having learned his lesson, Jesus makes the demons stay silent.
He does a lot of that in Mark. Maybe he’s not ready yet for his identity to be known Like Spider Man or Clark Kent or Bruce Wayne or Wonder Woman he keeps it a secret. Maybe he just doesn’t want people to see him as a human miracle vending machine. (Though we still try to make him that)
After all this, he needs to get away, pray and recharge. And the when his disciples come, move on. He resists the temptation to become the local rock star and moves on.
As we look at this story, there are four things to that come to mind….
First, avoid the temptation of popularity. Jesus helps out of love and compassion, not to gain followers by being a magic man. Matthew will turn this idea into a whole dramatic scene in the wilderness, confronting Satan. Later, when confronted by thousands of hungry people, Jesus will say to his disciples, you feed them. Those coming to see him were most those without resources. As the ultimate conflict with Rome drew near, peoples' lives were more and more impacted. Just so, Covid most hurts those at the bottom. Who are the last to get the vaccine. Which ultimately endangers us all. Jesus ministry begins with those who are considered the least, the forgotten and excluded.
Second, just aa Jesus healed not all, but many, we have to learn to accept our own limitations. We are called to do what we can.
Third, as Jesus needs his “deserted place,” we need to stop, need our place to get away, to pray, to catch our breath, reflect and be ready to go back out again.
Finally, as Jesus gave with no expectation of repayment, so we too must give for the sake of giving.
In this story, Jesus finds parameters of his ministry, his job description…casting out demons, healing and teaching and preaching. As those who bear his name, let us share in that ministry. And to him be the glory, Let those with ears to hear, hear,
Gospel Mark 1:29-39
29As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34And 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.
35In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38He 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.” 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
