Pentecost 6 (year B- proper 8)- Mark 5:21-43

 In the Gospel for this Sixth Sunday after Pentecost from St. Mark 5, we have two healing stories interwoven. Both stories make important points about Jesus and about human responses to Him. In the first story, there is a ruler or president of a synagogue named Jairus. He has a position of local religious leadership and probably is fairly well-to-do in his community. Yet, in his concern for his daughter, he is also humble. He implores Jesus to come and lay hands upon her. 

Another encounter interrupts the trip to Jairus' house, and messengers arrive to inform the man ,“Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” Overhearing this report, Jesus says to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” Jesus takes His core disciples, Peter, James and John to the house. All think the girl is dead, but Jesus goes in with the three disciples and the girl's parents. He tells her to arise, and she does. Faith is the key; it opens the way for Jesus give life.

The other healing is the inserted story of the woman with the bleeding problem. This woman has suffered from her illness for years and is desperate. Furthermore, the nature of her affliction means that she is ritually unclean and an outcast. So the woman hides in the crowd. She believes that Jesus can heal her, but she dares not approach Him openly- for fear of shunning by the crowd or of an embarrassing rejection by Jesus.  

With great and humble faith, the woman reaches out to touch the edge of Christ's robe, and immediately, two things happen: she senses God's healing, and Jesus senses that divine power has flowed from Him. When He asks who has touched Him, the woman comes to humbly admit her action. Jesus in turn recognizes her faith, and sends her away in peace and health. This second story is also about how faith opens the way for Jesus' life-giving power. 

There can be a number of applications of our Gospel. One application is about physical healing. There are still difficult medical situations- cases of critical illness like the girl and cases of chronic illness like the woman. Faith does not overcome every single physical ailment, but there are still inexplicable healings, and in faith, we need to be open to unusual possibilities.

Besides the matter of physical disease and healing, the healing of God also applies to mental and spiritual issues. Many troubles in human life affect people in ways similar to the frantic father and the desperate woman. Many things can frighten us or slowly wear us down until we come to Jesus. He is the great physician of bodies, minds, and souls. He wants to help us. He wants to give us better lives now and eternally. So let us not make faith a last resort. Instead, let us seek Christ and His healing grace on a daily basis. 

Anniversary of the Augsburg Confession

On 25 June 1530, German Lutheran princes, civic leaders, and theologians presented their confession of the Evangelical faith to Emperor Charles V and the Diet convened at Augsburg. This year marks the 494th anniversary of that momentous event. The Augsburg Confession is a clear and relatively concise statement of the main theological principles of the Reformation. While certainly reflecting a certain moment in Christian history, its basic Reformation views on Scripture and tradition remain relevant for contemporary Christians. Let us offer thanks to God for the principles of this basic scriptural Confession of Faith.

Pentecost 5 (year B proper 7)- Mark 4:35-41

 The Gospel for this Fifth Sunday after Pentecost is from Mark 4:35-41, the occasion when Jesus calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Let us notice two key points: 1) the reactions of the disciples and 2) the identity of Jesus. 

First, we see the followers of Jesus were often weak and fearful. Despite all His teachings and His miraculous healings, they continue to lack confidence and be afraid. Although some of the disciples were experienced Galilean fishermen, the windstorm on the water scared them. Their weak faith was shaken, and they panicked. They even accused Jesus of not caring for them enough. And when He responded by calming the storm, they became fearful in a different way- afraid of His mysterious power over the great forces of nature.

Secondly, the story tells about who Jesus is. He is a wise teacher, and He is a great healer of human afflictions. But in this account, we see that Jesus is also much more than a teacher and a healer. He is more than human. He shares the divine essence and has authority over the natural world. He rules over the wind and the sea. His power over nature points to His unique identity. He is God the Son come in human flesh. Through His divine power, He overcomes the fallen condition of this world and defeats sin, death, and the devil. He cares for His followers and delivers them. He offers them peace in a turbulent world.

The two points of today's Gospel still apply to us as Christ's followers. First, like the first disciples, we are often still fearful and lacking in faith. We are frightened of many things, and the remedy for such fear is real faith or trust in Christ. Secondly, as Christians, we recognize who Jesus really is. We trust that He is more than a teacher or healer. We rejoice to see Him and trust Him as God the Son in the flesh. He has power over creation, over even the wind and the waves. He cares for us, and He can deliver us from death and destruction! Through His abiding presence, He can bring us true peace!

Pentecost 4 (year B proper 6)- Mark 4:26-34

The Gospel for this Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Mark 4:26-34) is fairly short but is packed with content. There are two brief parables by Jesus about the kingdom of God and then a concluding observation by the evangelist on Jesus' use of parables. First, in Mark 4:26-29, we read one of our Lord's several comparisons of the kingdom of God to seeds. Here the emphasis is on the mysterious growth of divine rule. Man may scatter the seed, but God takes care of the growth. Nature and human beings have a part to play, but the overall development is up to God.

Secondly, in Mark 4:30-32, there is the parable of the mustard seed. Like the preceding parable, there is a point about the growth of God's kingdom. More specifically,  this comparison stresses the magnitude of growth. God takes the smallest seed and produces a large bush. In other words, God can use small ordinary contributions or efforts in order to bring great growth for His purposes. There is a mystery in the whole process, but it depends on God.

Thirdly, in Mark 4:33-34, Mark comments on the place of parables in Jesus' teaching ministry. For His public ministry to the Palestinian crowds, Jesus uses memorable parables to make general points about the kingdom of God. However, our Lord does not stop with these general points. He is more specific in His teachings to His closest followers. In the words of Mark 4: 34 (ESV), "He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything." Parables are valuable and meaningful general pointers, but they need to be applied, especially to the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ for the kingdom and for human salvation. The key to the meaning of parables and all Scripture is the person of Jesus Christ!

Pentecost 3 (year B)- Mark 3: 20-35

 This year the Gospel for this Second Sunday after Pentecost is Mark 3: 20-35. In this selection, there are three situations from early in Christ's public ministry. The general theme might be described as opposition and support for Jesus. First in Mark 3 20-21, we see that some members of Jesus' family do not understand or appreciate His ministry. They think that He is not in His right mind and needs to be restrained. Of course, they do not succeed. As important as family is, it cannot draw Him away from His divine calling.

Secondly in Mark 3:22-30, we see opposition to Jesus from religious leaders coming from Jerusalem. In their view, He has not had the right education or received proper credentials. But these official teachers go much farther in their accusations, and in doing so, they cross an important spiritual line.  They actually accuse Jesus of being allied with the devil. They reject all value in His work and despise the work of God's Spirit through Him. They have adopted a hardened attitude which will prevent them from turning from sin to accept His saving message.

Thirdly at the end of our Gospel, in Mark 3:31-35, there is another reference to family. Jesus' mother and other relatives come to Him. This event becomes the occasion for Jesus to give an important teaching on human relationships. Jesus does not deny the true value of physical kinship; He respects it in many passages. However, here He makes the point that physical kinship is secondary to spiritual kinship. Christian ties through serving the heavenly Father are more important than the dearest earthly ties. Faithfulness to God and Christ's Gospel transcends our loyalty to ordinary human duties. In other words, faith in the Gospel transcends the righteousness of the Law.