6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they
had done and taught.
6:31 He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by
yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and
they had no leisure even to eat.
6:32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by
themselves. 6:33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and
they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of
them.
6:34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion
for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he
began to teach them many things.
6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and
moored the boat.
6:54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him,
6:55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick
on mats to wherever they heard he was.
6:56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they
laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might
touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were
healed.
Comments:
Built on the living foundation of the apostles and prophets, the
local congregation is called to be an agent of reconciliation in a
world filled with division and violence. For Christians, the
ministry of peace begins and ends with Christ the shepherd, who
gathers the scattered children of the world. He is the source of our
life together and the center of the church's mission. To those who
seek nourishment for daily life, we point to Christ who guides and
feeds us on our journey.
When Jesus sent his disciples out to teach and heal, they ministered
among large numbers of people. Their work was motivated by Christ's
desire to be among those in need.
Sheep wandering about without a shepherd are a sign of the coming
Day of the Lord. "I myself," [note the unprecedented emphasis in
Jeremiah], God says, will shepherd the people (Jer 23.3). Woe to
those shepherds, God advises, who fail at their duty. The Day of the
Lord is a day filled with both judgment and grace. And the grace
will finally be recognized and appreciated after all the judgment
has come to pass.
The sheep of Jesus' day seem to have no trouble at all finding him.
In fact, Jesus cannot seem to lose them! After trying to get away,
Jesus is tracked down by the hurting hordes. Just to touch the
fringe of his cloak would be enough for these sheep. To be in the
presence of Jesus was to be healed. Have you ever had one of those
days when everyone you do not want to find you, does? Despite the
demands made on him, though, Jesus understands how the Day of the
Lord is averted (or is that fulfilled?). Avert God's wrath with the
doing of justice, the old-fashioned kind of justice: the sheltering
of the homeless, the feeding of the hungry, the clothing of the
naked, the healing of the sick, the welcoming of the stranger. Jesus
understands that having faith in God means the doing of compassion.
Indeed, as the crowds press in upon him, the text tells us "he had
compassion for them."
Having compassion is not always so simple. It is tiring. It is
risky. Having compassion may mean we do not get needed rest. Having
compassion, however is our calling - for all Christians. As we have
been shown compassion by the one who shares in our suffering, let us
be passionate in our compassion with those who suffer.
As I read the "Come away" I thought of how retreats are like this.
We go on retreats to a different place, a place where we intend by
choice as the people folling did, to hear from the "Holy One". Maybe
the deserted placed" is not void of all life, but of all
distractions. We rest in there as we leave our burdens with the
Lord. Nancy-Wi.
They recognized him. What a powerful phrase.
I'm working with the Ephesians text, asking "Who's Building THIS
House?" The question is, when people look at us, do they recognize
Christ? When they approach our house of worship, do they recognize
it as a place where God can be found.
I picture Jesus whenever he tries to go "on retreat" as being
recognized and needed.
As we live in his place, we too should be recognized (not receiving
recognition as an honor), recognized as ones who care and can
respond.
These are very early thoughts for me!
Pam in San Bernardino
Today I was struck by the words "As he went ashore, he saw a great
crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep
without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things." This
happens to me over and over again as I see such aimless living in
the people who don't know Jesus. Like the apostles who just returned
from their first training mission, I'm called to teach them the very
same "many things".
I'm struck with Jesus' example of spiritually feeding these starving
sheep following him that He loves so deeply. It's so easy to get
used to taking care of just my own family and church community and
to ignore these "unshepherded" sheep in my path. Then when the time
comes that I'm busy helping some unshepherded sheep with physical
needs, I forget to bring up Jesus' "many things". Tim in OH
I am using LOgos, so I am working with reminding our congregation of
things that can build walls, keeping Christ in our territory. We are
doing some outreach this summer and I as other have trouble with
those who "don't know someone new" so they don't invite them into
their church life.
I am concerned about the number of young people who truely only get
their kicks out of putting down others and greed for the dollar.
Where do they see the sacred in themselves? They are sheep who
certainly need to be fed. I am sort of rambling but I go to teach at
School of Mission next week, so I am starting early! Nancy-Wi
Hello all,
Two bus loads of UMC's are heading to Knoxville, TN as you probably
read this... we're going to YOUTH 2003. A rally of around 10,000 +
or - youth from all over the world!
Hope to see some of you there! IF not, appreciate any prayers, we're
going "whitewater" rafting enroute on a river in Tennessee I think
it is! I'm just going for the ride! ;?)
Blessings all, and thanks for keeping the "home-fires" burning!
God's best,
pulpitt in ND
I often wondered who Jesus had compassion on. It says that the
disciples were doing their ministry and great crowds of needy people
followed them wherever they went. As they were trying to get some
rest in a boat even more people wanted the attention of Jesus and
his disciples.
I wonder if Jesus had compassion not on the crowd, as much as he did
on the disciples since this would be something that they would have
to get used to as a way of life. And it says that Jesus taught
'them' many things. Perhaps he was teaching the disciples to have
perseverance even when they were tired.
I'm not sure if I am reading into the text something that isn't
there, but I would like to believe that Jesus had compassion on his
disciples since the ministry can be such an exhausting job.
Sometimes it seems that whenever I am looking forward to a rest
another one of my parishioners gets sick, a couple is threatened
with the possibility of divorce and comes to me looking for
counseling, or a family is grieving the loss of a loved one. And
sometimes, as I'm sure the disciples must have experienced, we push
ourselves to be 'present' while inside we are emotionally drained
and in need of some down time.
A few thoughts.
A New Pastor on the Jersey Shore...
I'm always curious as to why sections are left out of the text, like
Mark 6:35-52, which is about Jesus sending the disciples off in a
boat while he continues to minister to the crowd. Then Jesus catches
up to the disciples by walking on the water.
Maybe in doing this, Jesus was allowing his disciples to have a
retreat and to rest, while he ran interference for them on the
shore. The crowds followed when they reached the other shore, and it
was back to work again. But in the intervening time, maybe they got
some rest. I think sometimes in the ministry we have to catch rest
in small doses when the opportunity presents itself. I go for a
morning walk listening to praise music on a walkman, and I find that
to be a mini-vacation I take daily.
I suppose the text we have is about the identity of Jesus. Who is he
who is so compassionate, and who multiplies our reserves? -MattMN
Perhaps the disciples had contemplative needs in order to regain
"focus", a renewed sense of "orientation" or "reorientation", in
which the frame of reference at the center of their being/becoming
could be more grounded in awareness of the coming of God's Reign (Kingdom)in
which in the year of the Jubilee the "riches" of the Kingdom
(wholeness, personal wellness, seeing and seeing, hearing and
hearing, lame walking, sick are healed, etc, etc., etc.,) are
redistributed to all inclusively. The prayer reflective retreat
offered the disciples the healing insight of experiencing their own
"healing" and the "blessing to bless". (PaideiaSCO in the north GA
mts)
Well... we Episcopalians are not quite back on track with the RCL
yet ... we an overlapping pericope with the left-out verses, i.e.,
the feeding of the 5000, but not the healings at the end. I hope
we'll be back "together" soon....
Blessings, Eric in OH
At the end of the day, Jesus heads home and his mom asks, "How was
your day?"
"Oh," replies Jesus. "It was OK- took off for vacation but couldn't
get away. Fed 5000... walked on water, healed everyone, taught a
bit... same old, same old."
I sometimes look at this 6th chapter of Mark and wonder if this
isn't the expectation of the people of my parish for me- walk on
water, do everything, heal everything and keep on smiling.
I remember when Bishop Jordon first came to Iowa and had a meeting
with the clergy. He introduced his wife and someone asked her if she
had any advice for the clergy of Iowa. She smiled and said, "Well...
there is Jesus Christ and there is Superman, and you'd better
remember that you aren't either one!"
TB in MN
I, too, am troubled that our pericope leaves out the verses about
the feeding of the 5000 and Jesus walking on the water. Those last
few verses (53-56) seem stuck on to the end. Regarding the
disciples' need for rest, I think the simple fact of this text is
that they do not get rest. If it was me, I would have been resentful
when I saw that crowd of needy people waiting for me. But Jesus is
not me; he has compassion and begins to teach. I don't think this
text is telling us that we have to work all the time and cannot ever
make room for the rest we need. Of course we need rest and time
away. Jesus was concerned about his disciples because they had been
working hard and he wanted them to have rest. But when a crowd of
people came to him he continued to teach and feed them. I would have
asked them to make an appointment for next week some time. That's
the way our lives are -- we cannot take care of everyone's needs all
the time. We should not think we can. But this lesson isn't about us
(the disciples), it is about Jesus, who has concern both for those
who work with him in ministry and for those who come to him in need.
I'm not sure how we preach that, but I don't think this lesson is
here to make us feel guilty when we care for ourselves, or to let us
off the hook in caring for people who need Jesus. PKH in NC
The feeding of the 5000 is coming next week when the RCL takes us
into John's Gospel for a few weeks. We get 5 weeks in the sixth
chapter of John and reflect as we journey with the Jesus who is the
Bread of life. These weeks begin with a miraculous feeding but we
know it means much more than full stomachs. Jesus takes a walk on
the water that gives the disciples quite a start. The crowds catch
up with the Jesus who has just fed them and then the conversation
turns to true bread, the kind that satisfies one even into eternal
life. The readings from John 6 help us to understand our weekly
celebration of the eucharist, the bread of life that feeds our
souls. The conversation about bread ends at a synagogue in
Capernaum. Many at this point choose to not continue on the journey,
but the twelve charge on. Who else could they follow? Who else can
we follow?
So, don't be disappointed that the feeding is left out this week.
It's coming!
Shalom
I think is is somewhat humorous that instead of worrying about the
"sheep" that wander and the danger that is out there, the reading
from Mark bring up the issue about the "sheep" who are always
around, the sheep who smother you. It seems that both can be equally
tiring for the shepherd.
JP in CO
Allow me to try this summary of these verses: The disciples return
to Jesus to report on their activity. Everywhere they went, it was
God-business all the time, and business was good. They are back, and
it is still God-business all the time. "We need a break from God!"
they tell Jesus. "Think so? Well, that would mean going somewhere
God-forsaken, a God-deserted place." "Sounds good to us --let's get
in the boat and go now."
Yet when they get to a place where they think there is no God --
bam! God is there, and it is God-business time again. Jesus was
expecting the people, and had compassion on them.
"OK, we get it. God was with our people in the desert. But we know
God isn't with those people over in Gennesaret. No one will expect
anything from God, or us, while we are there." Yet when they get
there -- bam! it hits them upside the head. Jesus is able to work
among these people, too. There is no place where God is not, and
there are no people who are not God's. And wherever Jesus went, into
villages or cities or farms, God was with them.
OLAS (in a new appointment, and finally with internet connection)
AS a hospital chaplain, and an Episcopalian, I miss verses 53 to 56
simply because when I go to preach this week, they say so much about
the faith that people had in Jesus' powere to heal them. There were
many itinerant faith healers wandering around 1st Century Palestine
but there was something different in Jesus' ministry that has kept
his name on our lips for over 2000 years. Over and over again in
Mark's gospel, it is clear that when Jesus heals, he reminds us that
it is our faith that enables him to do his best work. Would that we
had that kind of faith each day. Revgrammie
OLAS makes a fine point about encountering God everywhere and
finding ministry in all locations. I know that when I am on
vacation, I sometimes try not to reveal my occupation as pastor
because it inevitably means a deep conversation, a confession, a
theological question, a heart-breaking story... I know I get tired
sometimes feeling like I am always 'on' (once, in a restaurant, my
wife sighed contentedly and said, "Isn't this great? No one knows
who we are!"). But the compassionate spirit calls us to bear one
anothers burdens and so, if we are true to our call, we listen,
minister and share no matter where we are.
There is such an ache and want for God in the world that we
sometimes wish to tune it out to escape the demand of it all but
this story reminds us of two important points-- our calling to land
the boat and minister to the world and, on the shore, the worlds
hunger for the word we are called to share.
Think of the hunger in the eyes of those running along the shoreline
chasing after Jesus and the disciples. Imagine the heartbreaking
sight of the sick, the families hoping for a cure for a loved one,
those wanting to hear God's word, those hoping simply for a
compassionate touch... it is as true today for us as it was then for
the disciples if we allow ourselves to see.
TB in MN
PS So here is my guiding image for my sermon- we are a ship offshore
sailing about with all of our friends on board. It is a nice place
to be, we are provided for and ministered to, and it is fun to be
out there sailing on our boat but a great crowd is gathering on
shore calling to us for food, healing, kindness, mercy, hope, need,
desire. Do we dock? Do we sail on? Do we ignore? The funny thing is
that, if we sail on, another crowd will gather and keep calling.
Date: 7/15/2003
To: TB in MN I feel that as a Christian my compassionate heart is to
be "always on" but even Jesus went off to rest and pray. If we think
it all depends on us everywhere and all the time, we will so find
ourselves so depleated we will be ill from exhaustion and over work.
I love my Ministry with 3 local churches, but if I do not pace
myself I will be no good to anyone. I am not Jesus or Superwoman. I
am preaching on Sabbath this Sunday "Come away to a deserted place
and rest awhile." Jesus said to his disciples and eventually they do
get to rest. Everyone is so extremely busy these days that stress
related disordes are on the increase. If we are to help our
congregations, family and friends deal with this problem in todays
culture and its affects on their lives we must first model it -
Sabbath living. It is my goal these days, to do what I do the best I
can and that includes being a friend, parent, grandparent as well as
a pastor. Peace begins with in and is then lived out into the world.
Learning about Sabbath as an act of honoring wht God has created in
me and not as a legal beagle ritual brings peace to my soul - not
just on a day of Sabbath, but in Sabbath living everyday. jmj in mt
I think that it is no accident that in a lot of churches this Mark 6
selection, about shepherds getting rest from their hectic lives is
coupled with the Jeremiah 23 cursing the Shepherds for not doing
enough for the sheep. June in TX
I think that it is no accident that in a lot of churches this Mark 6
selection, about shepherds getting rest from their hectic lives is
coupled with the Jeremiah 23 cursing the Shepherds for not doing
enough for the sheep. June in TX
Mayb it's because I find it so difficult to make Sabbath for myself
-- and am all too aware of how difficult families find it to get
real days of rest and renewal -- but I am really drawn to the words,
"Come away...and rest." When I read through the pericopes for this
week I was reminded of the old Calgon commercial of he harried woman
who cries out, "Calgon, take me away!" That's the title I'm working
with at the moment. Hope my new flock has a collective sense of
humor!
Robbie in Central Kansas
This balance between self-care and being present to others is so
tricky. Perhaps the quote that challenged my thoughts in this area
came from Frederick Buechner -- it goes something like this: "A
bleeding heart is of no use to anyone at all if it bleeds itself to
death." lh in nj
Come away-we all need to truly get away once in awhile to recharge
our batteries. For my conferences health insurance the three biggest
costs come from anit-ulcer meds, high blood pressure meds, and
anti-depressants. I think that this is a clear sign that we are
overworked and need to remember that we must take the time to get
away and to take care of ourselves. If we are burned out we can't
adequately take care of others. KB in Iowa
My 10-year-old son has wanted a puppy for months. Finally, we found
the right dog for our family, a miniature dachshund whom my son has
named "Jen." Right now, Jen is in charge at our house. When she
wants attention, she gets it. When she wants to play, we stop and
play with her. I am having a terribly busy week this week (3
funerals, so far)but Jen wanted me to hold her last night. I moved
away from the computer, and lost myself in the joy of this cute,
energetic, can't-resist puppy. How could anyone not want to shower
love and attention on this cute little puppy?
"Jesus looked on them with compassion, because they were like sheep
without a shepherd." It's hard to believe that God shows compassion
towards all of his creatures, but he does. God has made us
irresistible to himself.
I think I'm going to hold Jen while I preach on Sunday.
-Dale in Chattanooga
Whenever I read this text I remember Henry Nouwen's book The Wounded
Healer. I remember that the difference in the wounded healer and all
the others is that the wounded healer unbinds his/her wounds one at
a time and rebinds them. By doing this she/he is able to care for
others while in the midst of caring for self. The others unbind all
their wounds at once and are so immersed in taking care of
themselves that they are unable to do anything for anyone else. I
think Nouwen saw Jesus as the epitome of the wounded healer. The
image of the wounded healer has always been helpful to me.
Creature Wayne
As has been mentioned a couple of times so far, we are neither
"Superwoman/man" nor Jesus.
We, as pastors and laypersons, are not responsible for the entire
ministry of our community or congregation. Jesus is. And Jesus' work
is not done only through us, but through the entire community of
believers. As individuals, we need Sabbath rest, not only for a day,
but sometimes for a week or two. Sometimes we miss a day of rest. I
hope we can make it up. God created us as creatures who need rest,
regularly.
Let us remember that Jesus had (has) compassion on them, and HE
healed them. And when he commissions his disciples, he sends no one
out alone. As difficult as it may be for our egos, we are not "the
only one who can" care for the people of God, those with or without
pastors. Jesus is the shepherd, and he can work through all of us,
not just the pastors and professional lay workers.
Please, people, take your vacations. Give yourself time to hear
God's voice in the stillness of your rest. God loves you, and does
not want you to work yourself to death. Peace be with you.
Michelle
PS: Welcome back OLAS!
I've been struggling with the fact that Jesus told the apostles to
come away to a deserted place all by themselves to rest a while, but
then the people raced to the shore ahead of them. Jesus had
compassion for the people, and began to teach them. I wonder if the
apostles were off resting while Jesus was teaching and then returned
to tell him of the late hour. Any thoughts? CL in OH
True story: a few years back my wife (a special eucation teacher)
and I decided to take our two children on a vacation to a place we
thought would be deserted - a mountain resort town that we had
visited before in the winter, but which we were sure would be empty
in the summer. So, without even a hotel reservtion in hand, we
headed for Estes Park, CO, just sure that we could find a room, and
some peace and quiet in a deserted place.
As we neared on that July 3rd, we quickly discovered that every
cabin, every inn, every room was booked -- it turns out that their
4th of July celebration is one of the biggest in the region and
people come from miles around. We were able to find a room (smoking!
ew!) at the Holiday Inn, but it was already reserved for someone
else the next might.
We put on our swim suits and headed to the hotel pool. We were
surprised that the whirlpool wasn't being used, but no sooner had we
settled in to relax that we saw a woman approach with her daughter,
who had multiple physical and mental challenges. It was easy to see
the stress in the mother's face as she explained that once a year
they made this trip for the daughter, but her husband wasn't able to
come this year. My wife, even though she was on vacation, didn't
hesitate to tell this mother that she worked with special needs
children all the time, and helped get the girl into the pool and
then played with her so that mom got a break.
The next day (after Holiday Inn informed us we could stay in the
room one more night after all!), we got to do the vacation things --
visit the stores, eat food someone ele cooked, etc. When it was time
for the fireworks display, we picked a spot on the hill next to the
hotel, as did most of the other Inn residents. Near to us was a
family with 3 small children -- 2 girls and a boy. The girls were
running around, as excited children are meant to do, and mom and dad
were trying hard to keep them corraled, and apologizing to the
adults they assumed were being bothered. The boy, however, exhibited
other behaviors that my wife correctly identified as autism
(confirmed by the parents during one of their many apologies). My
wife wondered how he was going to handle the fireworks display,
since overstimulation is a real concern for autistic children.
As the show began, the boy became very agitated, broke away from his
mother - and came and sat on my lap, where he became very calm and
began to watch the fireworks. As his mother started to apologize
again, I told her I was a minister and since her son seemed to have
chosen me to protect him, he was fine for as long as he wanted to
stay. After a brief moment to consider this, she said thank you, and
she got to enjoy the display along with the rest of her family.
Wherever we go, we discover again that there is no place where God
is not, and that there are no people who are not God's -- and as we
showed compassion, we were refreshed!
OLAS
Thanks for your contributions folks. I am going to speak on
"spiritual healing." It is mostly "out of our frame of reference" in
our church tradition. The ideas that I am getting from good sources
is that Jesus did channel God's grace and energy for healing.
Salvation means "to be whole or sound." We are an integration of
body, mind, spirit and community. Prayer is to "be in the precence,
power and love of God." God always wills our health and wholeness.
There is a difference between being cured and healed. We will all
die, but we can all die healed. Jesus healed various diseases and
distressed, in various ways. He also assisted some in being their
own channel of God's grace. Whenever we touch a plant, and animal or
a human with compassion and love we can be a conduit of healing.
Just the way people shake hands, look at each other, and touch each
other with words or physically, they can be a vehicle of God's love
and healing. Tests have shown the empirical effectiveness of prayer
for plants, sponges, animals and humans. Even blessing and praying
over water before it is poured onto plants has evidence that it is
gives more life. Hence, how good it is to bless food before we eat
it. We don't pray for our agenda to be met, but for someone's
"highest good" and for their "Divinely Intended Destiny." And we
need to take care of our needs - retreat, renew and be centered on
God, so we can be possible healthy conduits of grace for others.
These are some of the thoughts that are a part of my preparation for
this week.
Brent in Pincher
Dale,
I loved your statement that "God has made us irresistable to
himself" and that was why Jesus could see the crowds and have
compassion on them. We forget that sometimes, especially when we
find others, and even ourselves, so unlovable. Your statement
reminded me of a verse in Isaiah (43:25) where God confronts the
people, saying, "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions,
for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." If God didn't
make us irresistable to himself, we would be in bad shape indeed.
What a great concept! He rescues us for his own sake and we get all
of the benefits! Mike in Soddy Daisy, TN
My sermon title for this Sunday is "A Shepherd Speaks." I am in the
unusual position of having three miniature Southdown sheep in my
backyard (they're a little smaller than my St. Bernard dog). As a
"suburban shepherd," I have learned some lessons about sheep
firsthand. The most important lesson is how needy they are. Every
morning at 4:30--5:00 AM, they wake me up with a loud "BAAAA." I've
got to tend to their needs before I tend to my own. Sometimes I
resent it. Sometimes I get mad at them for waking me up so early and
being so demanding. But they remind me of how I complain loudly to
God that things aren't exactly to my liking, and how He never gets
mad at me for pleading with Him. Jesus is not the Suburban Shepherd,
and He's not the typical (surly) shepherd. He's the Good Shepherd,
and He comes to me when I say "BAAAA," and leads me to green
pastures.
--Preacher Will in NJ
This will be my third Sunday in a new appointment so I am taking a
little license with the text. I believe that my folks are tired yet
hungry for a new start on ministry. They are in need of hearing each
other talk positively about their acts of discipleship and ministry.
I am intrigued by the idea that the disciples had finished some of
their own early ministry (having come from many backgrounds - none
with a degree in "ministry") and that their conversation in the boat
might be full of rich sharing. Who had done what. Where this or that
had taken place. How they had worked together in pairs and felt
God's presence. How what Jesus commanded them to do was possible by
faith... How a specific act of ministry might have been "so
awesome...or difficult" Isn't it fun to imagine what might have been
said? Some real opportunities to uplift the human response to
ministry.
The other, and main point, is that I get the impression Jesus was
saying "come away to a deserted place - with me -- and rest a while.
I want my folks to delve into the concept that Jesus goes with us --
to our deserted places of renewal and to the busy places of expected
ministry. Jesus doesn't tell us to go on a cruise and forget about
him...rather come away with me and renew yourself. There is a great
hymn in The Faith We Sing entitled "Come Away with Me." We'll be
uplifting the need to renew and reflect as part of re-energizing!
Hopes this helps someone else who may be struggling... Wings
Warblings in NJ
OLAS,
I loved your story as I know of it's truth because I see it all the
time in my world. I go to the hospital to take care of my daughter
and find many needing to be touched by God's grace and love. In
reaching out to them, God heals my heart as well. And as one
individual wrote, healing isn't always cure. My daughter's cancer
isnt' getting better but her spirit is. And the spirit of those we
encounter week after week seem to be touched as well. God is where
ever we go and it is good. I am not sure that hard as we may try to
get to that deserted place to rest, it is very possible at various
times of our lives. But because Christ goes with us to whereever we
are, we find rest. When we don't try to carry our load alone, we
find rest. Christ has compation and that brings us Peace!
Just some thoughts... Tammy in Texas
Here are some quotes on Sabbath from "An Invitation to Sabbath:
Rediscovering a Gift", report of the Work Group on Sabbath Keeping
to the 212th General Assembly (2000) - that Presbyterian Church,
USA.
"As a society, we know well the statistics that delineate a
particular form of progress: the ideal economic growth rate is 3% to
5% peryear; adusting for inflation, United States citizens spend
more than twice as much of material goods and services as they did
fifty year ago; we buy homes almost three times larger than we did
following World War II and fill them with twice as many things; we
work longer hours, more of us hold multiple jobs, and we now live to
the full what decades ago was proclaimed as 'the gospel of
consumerism.'
"'Sabbath is a gift, but we are so reluctant to accept it, that God
had to make it a command,' writes contemporary religious leader
Barbara Brown Taylor.
"...says Calvin, "Work is good, but when we work all the time work
becomes a curse not a blessing.' (and) 'On the Sabbath, we cease our
work so God can do God's work in us.'"
According to Eugene H. Peterson, a Presbterian pastor in Maryloand,
there are two essential ingredients to keeping the sabbath: praying
and playing. And a Sabbath that omits one or the other is not a true
Sabbath. The Puritans were good at praying, and working. Today's
secular society is good at working, and playing. But a true Sabbath
takes time to pay attention to God, as well as find joy in creation,
both pray and play.
God bless us all who are working (desperately) this day.
DGinNYC
If we do not forget that this gospel text follows the beheading of
John the Baptist, we may well understand that these disciples who
have been in the world healing and preaching and listening, have
encountered the political storms of that event. They return with the
success of what they have done, but the danger of the storm still
rages. The quiet place, genneserat, is a lush valley and a deserted
place, which, according to the theology of Jesus day, is filled with
evil demons. Maybe the storm never ends. On the land, in the boat,
quiet or loud, the sheep who have lost their shepherd need to find a
new one. Could that possibly be Jesus the son of God?
Regarding the discussion about the skipped passages, I think it's a
good thing to remind all of us that even when we are away from
ministry, resting, that Jesus is still working within the people
that we care about, and that he has compassion on them. We don't
need to feel guilty about caring for ourselves and getting rest,
because he is the one that sent us away for that rest. And we can
trust that while we are doing that, He is working within the people
who are without a Shepherd.
I just returned from Study leave, from great rest, wonderful
speakers, and great fellowship, with great confidence that the
people entrusted to my care were very well taken care of!
Susan in Wa.
