A sermon preached on Sunday 19th at 9:30 Family Communion
Mark 6: 30-34, 53-56
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31He 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.
32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As 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.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Let us pray
Heavenly father,
I pray that my words would be acceptable in your sight, and that the mediations of our hearts would be to your honour and your glory
In Jesus Name
Amen.
Looking Back
A couple of weeks ago – we read that Jesus had sent the disciples out with their L plates up to go around and do what he had been doing – today is the follow up session – The time when Jesus asked them – what had they achieved and how it had all gone. They were able to report back on all that they had said and all that they had done. What had had witnessed God doing in the lives of those whom they had touched.
From intense activity they now move into a time of relaxation, A time of re-couperation, a time re-creation. A time to simply be with Jesus, a time when they can re-charge the batteries.
Let us pause here for a moment – Being in Holiday season here – let us take a moment and ask a couple of questions.
Evaluation
In the workplace today there is a lot of emphasis on review, of looking back and asking
what did you do,
how well do you think you are doing it,
what can you do better,
what strategies are you going to put into place in the future?
I wonder if we were to look at our learning, our discipleship and what we had done over the last few months - were to come to Jesus as the disciples did that day – what could we report back. Not as an examination but as a chat to see where we go from here.
This is not a exercise to be critical and beating yourself up about but one in which we can learn from.
The disciples, those 12 were not people who were high flyers, Jesus didn't appoint them because they were the best – they were very ordinary people – people with ordinary jobs but who made themselves available to Jesus. Today, we need to be asking ourselves – what is Jesus calling me to do and how can I be faithful in fulfilling that calling.
We all are called to be discples wherever we find ourselves – be that bankers, carers, doctors, housewives, people who pray, parents … wherever we are we are called to be faithful with what God has called us to. In Jesus' Community there are none unemployed – each one of us are part of the body.
We are called to be disciples. We need to sit under the teacher, we need to be listening and learning from Jesus. The way we can do this is to leave time daily to pray, to read scripture, to have it explained if we don't know what it means. We also need to set aside time to be alone with God – whether that be away for a walk, or simply time to pray at home.
Time out with God.
Can you survive without that time in Bible Study and prayer … well many people do try.
But it is a bit like two mums chatting over coffee – one has a child who enjoys a very varied and healthy diet of all sorts of food. The other has a child who will only eat potato waffles, supernoodles, ice-cream and carrots. Perhaps the second child will survive but imagine what she is missing out on.
There are amazing riches which come from being with Jesus, from having the relationship with him, from allowing him to ask you difficult questions. From studying his word not simply for knowledge but for food / daily bread.
Jesus then took his disciples away from the crowds pressing in them to a desserted place – a place to be alone with them. Jesus was a people person, he loved being with people but he knew there was a time and place to withdraw to a solidarty place where he could be alone and draw upon the resources of the father. The offer is open to us as well, that we can do the same.
One of the Major points to note from this reading is Jesus feeling of compassion towards the crowds … it is noted that he had compassion on them … I am by no means a greek scholar but those who are tell me that the word which is used is not a simple compassion but a deep desire – right down in the guts – a compassion which moves us to action.
The whole of Jesus' ministry was a mix between what is seen of doing the work of God and also resting in the father's presence. In Church it is very easy to get caught up in always doing things. And of course we need to be doing things – but we also need times when we sit, be still and take time out in God's presence.
It is in his presence where we can find healing and where lives find fulfilment. This morning as we come to communion, as we remember what God has done for each one of us.
Let us remember that we not only can come and spend time with him but that we can run to him as abba, as daddy. As the shepherd, the one who when we are feeling harassed and helpless as sheep without a shepherd.
A few weeks ago, I was at an event where I was a member of team, where we were praying for people. At the team meeting the leader always started by saying - “Relax” really “relax” God is in control. He'll get us through today.
There are so many people who are worrying about so many things - there are so many issues, so many problems in all of our families but as Christians we have hope – We have victory.
Is any of you sick – Call the elders and they will pray for you?
As Christians we are called to pray for each other, we are called to help each other out.
In this parish family we have a team of people who would love to pray for your concerns – if there are people on your heart who needs prayer there is a box down at the back of church and we will pray for that person.
The clergy are always very happy to pray with you through your concerns and be a listening ear – simply give us a ring and we will call round.
Jesus ministry is a ministry of the whole person – We all need Time for reflection, time for action and time for meditation of God's word.
Let us remember that we are all simply learners and we need to take that time to learn.
Before I finish let us re- read the passage...
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.
What have we been doing?, what have we been learning about God?
31He 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.
Do we need to get away to a place where we can be alone with Jesus. Where would that place be?
32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As 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.
What harrasses us – what do we need to put into place to stop that harrassing, do we need to know the compassion of the good shepherd?
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
What healing do we need in our lives?
Let us pray.
Heavenly father, we pray that what we read in your word this day would take root in our hearts and show forth as fruit in our daily lives. This we pray in the name of your son
Amen.
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