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Environmental
Stewardship Commission
(MEESC) |
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Environmental
Stewardship Commission
(MEESC) |
|
Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota
Lectionary Reflection
Year B, Proper 8, Gospel
Mark 5:22-24, 35b-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered round him and he stayed by the lake. Then the president of the synagogue came up, named Jairus, and seeing him, fell at his feet and begged him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is desperately sick. Do come and lay your hands on her that she may be saved and may live. Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him. ... some people arrived from the house of the president to say, "your daughter is dead; why put the Master to any further trouble?" But Jesus overheard what they said and he said to the president of the synagogue, "do not be afraid; only have faith." And he allowed no one to go with him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. So they came to the house of the president of the synagogue, and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. He went in and said to them, "why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep." But they ridiculed him. So he turned them all out and , taking with him the child's father and mother and his own companions, he went into the place where the child lay. And taking the child by the hand he said to her, "Talitha kum!" which means "Little girl, I tell you to get up." The little girl got up at one and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old. At once there were overcome with astonishment, and he gave them strict orders not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat. (New Jerusalem Bible)
Reflection on Mark
5:22-24, 35b-43
by the Rev Roger Weaver
Jesus of Nazareth in the resurrection continually takes the life choices. There is in the 20th Century novel the idea that humans are born, they breathe, they suffer, and they die. That was our realistic commentary on life. And what Jesus of Nazareth and the resurrection story have to say is that humans are born, they breathe, and they die and out of them new life comes, yes, new life comes!! Life choices: resurrection!
Perhaps most important aspect from this Gospel is the demonstration of compassion. I saw this on the highway coming home from Cass Lake Camp last Thursday. We were on the road about 7 in the evening on Highway 2 West of Deer River – flat out and straight. Cruising along, bleary-eyed. You know how the horizons are, you can see the traffic coming and going for a long way. Then, on the horizon, on the road were these kind stick figures – just shadows – silhouetted against the horizon. I initially thought they were crows and as we came zooming up on them and swing over into the other lane to avoid them I they are see are Great Northern Geese: a mother and her chicks, standing on half of the roadway. They are standing there and looking towards the center line where there was a corpse of one of them that had been hit by a car. And they are just standing there. The cars are whizzing by and around them. The pathos of that scene was enormous. We drove around them and a few feet down the road, the white car in front of us suddenly puts on the brakes and makes a U-turn and heads right on back to get those geese off the highway. Compassion. Concern for those ducklings and the mother. To help them move. A Life choice. Identifying with someone else – another people – another culture. I find that through Jesus of Nazareth all the time. And I find that compelling.
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