Tag Archives: Gospel of Mark

Show, don’t tell

James Tissot (1836-1902) opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894 Brooklyn Museum

Rétire-toi, Satan
James Tissot (1836-1902)
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

“But who do you say that I am?” You ask me.

In faith, I would answer, ““You are the Christ.”

But am I welcoming people who are strangers to me? Am I providing shelter for those who are homeless? Am I sharing my food with those who are hungry? Am I forgiving those who have hurt me? Am I loving as You have loved me?

Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.”
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. James 2:18

Touch of compassion

Ottheinrich-Bibel, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Blatt 55v: Heilung des Taubstummen, Mk 7,31-37 ca.1425-1430

Ottheinrich-Bibel, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Blatt 55v: Heilung des Taubstummen, Mk 7,31-37
ca.1425-1430

Jesus touches my ears and I hear the cries of those who are grieving, discouraged, abused, abandoned, ignored, scorned, in need of shelter, love, and comfort.

Jesus touches my tongue and I speak out plainly in support of those who need hope, justice, faith, peace, encouragement, and compassion.

Jesus is not afraid to touch those in need.
Am I?

[Jesus] put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly. Mark 7:33-35

Power to change

Ernst Barlach, 1870-1938 Lehrender Christus, mit vorgestreckten Händen, 1922

Ernst Barlach, 1870-1938
Lehrender Christus, mit vorgestreckten Händen, 1922

Jesus knows we’re human. At times we’re going to be judgmental, indifferent, greedy, resentful, and self-seeking. We’re also going to be compassionate, loving, forgiving, and generous.

What happens when I think negative, hurtful thoughts? What happens when I speak scornfully, sarcastically, or otherwise unkindly to myself and others?

What happens when I deliberately choose to think positive, grateful thoughts? What happens when I speak respectfully and kindly to myself and others?

Jesus urges us to be aware of our thoughts and how we act on them. We have the power to change the world with our attitudes and actions.

[Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,] “From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” Mark 7:20-23

Moved by compassion

Vincent van Gogh, 1853-1890 Shepherd with a Flock of Sheep Nuenen, September 1884 oil on canvas Mexico City, Museo Soumaya

Vincent van Gogh, 1853-1890
Shepherd with a Flock of Sheep
Nuenen, September 1884
oil on canvas
Mexico City, Museo Soumaya

What moves my heart to feel compassion?

The 10,000 people packed in an open boat, refugees from their homes headed who knows where.

The immigrants lined up at the Salvation Army, waiting—patient, stoic—for a box of food.

My friend with cancer who has been given three months to live.

I cannot live their lives for these precious children of God, but I can be a shepherd of  kindness, encouragement, welcoming, respect, comfort, and generosity to help lighten their heavy burdens.

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34

 

The simple life

James Tissot, 1836-1902 Il les envoya deux à deux, 1886-1896 Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper Brooklyn Museum

James Tissot, 1836-1902
Il les envoya deux à deux, 1886-1896
Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper
Brooklyn Museum

I don’t need overstocked cupboards, expensive gadgets, a big salary, or an extensive wardrobe to do the work of the Lord. I just need love, compassion, forgiveness, awareness of others and their needs, and a willingness to serve as I am sent.

[Jesus] instructed [the Twelve] to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. Mark 6:8-9

The whole of the human mystery

James Tissot (1836-1902) Il ne fit pas des miracles mais il guérit Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, 1886-`896 Brooklyn Museum of Art

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Il ne fit pas des miracles mais il guérit
Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, 1886-1896
Brooklyn Museum of Art

When my friend Tina died, people shared so many wonderful memories of her. I was privileged to know about her spiritual insights and longings, her passion for social justice, her loyalty, her good work ethic, her sense of humor, and a few of her daily struggles. Other people knew her in different ways that opened my eyes to see a more complete picture of the beauty of Tina’s humanity. It was humbling for me to acknowledge how limited my viewpoint of Tina was. I realized that we can never know the whole of anyone.

The people in Jesus’ hometown had a limited idea of him. They were so sure that their viewpoint was the “right” one that they were judgmental and skeptical of his gifts. They couldn’t let him be Who he really was in their presence.

Today I am going to remember that I can never know the whole of another—their struggles, their pain, their hopes, their grief, their wounds, their talents, their interests. I am going to practice letting go of judging myself and others. I am going to keep in mind that we all want to be loved and accepted just as we are. And I am going to let God be God.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” Mark 6:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practicing faith

"Laura

Laura James
The Woman Suffering from Hemorrhages
acrylic on canvas, 2007
Private Collection

Medicine is a practice and doctors don’t always have the answer. But Jesus does.

Today I am going to practice having faith that Jesus has the cure for my ailments, illnesses, and anxieties. I am going to practice reaching out to touch his cloak of compassion, mercy, and peace. I am going to practice tuning in to feel the Lord’s healing in my mind, body, and spirit.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Mark 5:25-29

At peace in the storm

Jesus asleep in the boat

Jesus asleep in the boat

Rest easy.

The storm will pass.

God is with us.

The Lord is in charge.

All is well.

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. Mark 4:37-38a

Small seeds of love

Love in a pot

Love in a pot

God has planted the seed of unconditional love in each of our hearts. We watch that seed grow and spread and provide shelter as we practice forgiveness instead of resentment, patience instead of irritation, generosity instead self-seeking, awareness and compassion towards those in need instead of indifference to the cries of the poor, lonely, homeless, depressed, heartbroken, elderly, and abandoned.

 

[Jesus said to the crowds:] “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.” Mark 4:26-27

The cup of Love

© José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / , via Wikimedia Commons

Capilla de Corpus Christi, Catedral de Burgos
© José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro  via Wikimedia Commons

As a unique, significant member of the Body of Christ, each of us is privileged to share in the unconditional Love that is the New Covenant between God and the human family.

This covenant of Love teaches me to open my eyes, ears, hands, and heart to welcome each of my sisters and brothers in God’s human family; to let go of judgment, resentment, and fear; to give thanks for the grace to learn the way of peace and reconciliation from the Master of Compassion, who is Jesus, who has once and for always healed our brokenness into unity and harmony.

Then [Jesus] took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. Mark 14:23