SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 40:21-31 & Mark 1:29-39
SOME PEOPLE WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS WEEK’S LECTIONARY STORY IS TRULY A CONTINUATION OF LAST’S WEEK STORY, AND I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE.
IN MARK’S FAST MOVING GOSPEL, WHERE ALL OF THE ACTION TAKES PLACE IMMEDIATELY, IF NOT FASTER, TODAY’S PERICOPE BEGINS WITH AS SOON AS THEY LEFT THE SYNOGOGUE.
SO LET’S BEGIN BY REMINDING OURSELVES WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.
AS HIS FIRST ACT OF MINISTRY IN PROCLAIMING THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR, JESUS CALLS MEN TO FOLLOW HIM AND BE HIS DISCIPLES.
SIMON, ANDREW, JAMES AND JOHN LITERALLY DROP EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW JESUS.
AND AS THE SABBATH DRAWS NEAR, THEIR LITTLE ENTOURAGE ENTERS THE TOWN OF CAPERNAUM WHERE JESUS TEACHES IN AN ASTONISHING WAY.
JESUS TEACHES WITH A NEW KIND OF AUTHORITY, SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN HEARD BEFORE.
YOU SEE, IN THE POWER STRUCTURE OF THE 1ST CENTURY, THE MOST HIGH GOD HAD POWER OVER THE ARCHANGELS AND OTHER GODS, WHO HAD POWER OVER THE ANGELS AND UNCLEAN OR EVIL SPIRITS, WHO HAD POWER OVER HUMAN BEINGS, WHO HAD POWER OVER ALL OF THE CREATURES OF THE EARTH.
THIS WAS A VERY REAL SYSTEM FOR THE PEOPLE OF THAT DAY.
AND JESUS, IN HAVING POWER OVER THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT BY VIRTUE OF HIS OWN WORDS, IS REALLY CLAIMING HIS AUTHORITY TO BE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE MOST HIGH GOD, HERETOFORE UNHEARD OF.
FOLLOWING HIS TEACHING IN THE SYAGOGUE, JESUS EXERTS THE POWER HE HAS BEEN TEACHING ABOUT WHEN HE HAS A LITTLE RUN-IN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT AND CASTS THE EVIL SPIRIT OUT OF THE POOR MAN.
WE ALL KNOW THAT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, SO THE POINT IS MADE IN A BIG WAY.
AND SO, JESUS’ FAME BEGINS TO SPREAD WITH THE NEWS THAT “HE COMMANDS EVEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS, AND THEY OBEY HIM.”
AS THE STORY CONTINUES TODAY, WE HEAR…[MARK 1:29-39].
WHEN WE READ THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE LAST THURSDAY MORNING AT PRAYER GROUP, THERE WAS A VERY PREGNANT MOMENT OF SILENCE AFTER BILLIE READ ABOUT THE WOMAN BEING HEALED OF A FEVER AND IMMEDIATELY GETTING UP TO SERVE JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES A MEAL.
GEORGE LOOKED AT STEWART AND SAID, “DON’T EVEN TOUCH IT!”
I’M AFRAID WOMEN’S LIBERATION HAS LEFT US A BIT INCAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE MEANING OF THIS PART OF THE STORY.
IN TODAY’S WORLD WE HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE GOOD NEWS IN WAYS THAT OUR ANCESTRIAL BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAD NOT.
BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT UNDERSTANDS, TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, THE LIBERATING AFFECT OF JESUS’ MINISTRY WE MISS THE POINT OF THIS STORY AND WHAT A RADICAL MOVE THIS WAS ON THE PART OF JESUS AND THE WOMAN.
JESUS CROSSES BOUNDARIES, NO MATTER HOW MANY BARRIERS HUMAN BEINGS CONTINUE TO CONSTRUCT.
JESUS CROSSED THE BOUNDARY OF HEALING ON THE SABBATH IN THIS STORY.
JESUS CROSSED THE BOUNDARY OF TOUCHING A WOMAN TO WHOM HE WAS NOT RELATED IN THIS STORY.
JESUS CROSSED THE BOUNDARY OF TOUCHING AN UNCLEAN WOMAN, A WOMAN WITH A FEVER, IN THIS STORY.
JESUS LIFTED HER UP – HE HEALED HER – HE MADE HER WHOLE AGAIN.
THE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO SERVE THE MEN IN THE WAY IN WHICH SHE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO.
AND EVEN THOUGH HEALING AND WHOLENESS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WOMAN MAY MEAN NOT GETTING UP AND SERVING A MEAL, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT HEALING AND WHOLENESS FOR THIS 1ST CENTURY UNNAMED WOMAN WAS BEING WELL ENOUGH TO SERVE AGAIN.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
NOW WORD GETS AROUND QUICKLY IN A SMALL COMMUNITY.
IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT WE LEARNED MARTHA HAD A NEW GREAT GRANDSON AND JENNY IS STILL IN TROUBLE WITH HER LIVER, THE COMMUNITY AT CAPERNAUM LEARNED ABOUT THE SPECIAL HEALING POWERS OF THIS MAN NAMED JESUS WHO IS STAYING OVER AT THE WOMAN’S HOUSE.
NEWS GETS AROUND WHEN YOU CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.
AND NEWS HAD GOTTEN AROUND CAPERNAUM TO BRING “WHATEVER AILS YOU” TO JESUS.
THE CROWD ARRIVES AROUND SUNDOWN AND JESUS WORKS INTO THE NIGHT, HEALING AILMENTS AND CASTING OUT DEMONS.
SCRIPTURE SAYS, “HE WOULD NOT PERMIT THE DEMONS TO SPEAK.”
IT OCCURS TO ME – DID IT OCCUR TO YOU? – THAT SILENCING THE DEMONS MUST BE EXHAUSTING WORK?
STANDING UP TO THE EVIL SPIRITS AND TELLING THEM TO SETTLE DOWN AND GET OUT OF THERE…
BREAKING THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN WHAT IS CLEAN AND WHAT IS UNCLEAN…
WORKING ON THE SABBATH TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE CONSTERNATION OF THE PHARISEES…
THIS ALL WAS VERY DRAINING WORK FOR OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
HE NEEDED A REST.
AND SO WE THINK OF HIM, TAKING A QUIET WALK IN THE EARLIEST PART OF THE DAY, WHEN ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING SEEMS POSSIBLE.
WE THINK OF HIM QUIET AND MEDITATING AND COMMUNICATING WITH GOD.
BUT REMEMBER, THIS IS JESUS AND NOT US.
I THINK HE WAS TIRED, BUT NOT FROM THE HEALING AS MUCH AS THE ADORATION OF THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
I THINK HE WAS TIRED FROM THE TEMPTATION OF FAME AND GLORY.
I THINK JESUS WALKED AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE TO REACCLAMATE HIMSELF TO HIS MISSION AND MINISTRY.
JESUS WAS NOT BORN TO BE COMFORTABLE AND ADORED.
THERE WAS NOT A COMPLACENT BONE IN HIS BODY.
JESUS WAS BORN TO TELL THE PEOPLE THE GOOD NEWS – THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR.
AND THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF HIS MESSAGE IS THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS IN HIM.
HOW EMBARRASING IS THAT?
BUT IT’S THE TRUTH!
AND WHEN THE DISCIPLES FIND HIM AND ENTICE HIM TO COME BACK TO CAPERNAUM IN ORDER TO BASK IN THE GLORY OF HIS MINISTRY THERE, JESUS SAYS, “NO.”
FROM CAPERNAUM JESUS GOES THROUGHOUT GALILEE, PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR.
AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR IN JESUS.
A QUESTION THAT IS RAISED FOR ME IN THE READING OF THIS SCRIPTURE IS THIS: ARE WE MEANT TO WORSHIP JESUS?
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD ANSWER “YES” TO THAT QUESTION.
BUT THINK ABOUT HOW JESUS DEALS WITH HIS OWN FAME AND GLORY.
HE DOES NOT ALLOW THE CROWDS AROUND HIM TO WORSHIP HIM.
HE HEALS, HE SILENCES DEMONS, HE TEACHES, HE PROCLAIMS THE GOOD NEWS, HE PRAYS TO GOD, BUT HE NEVER GLORIFIES HIS OWN NAME.
AND THERE ARE ONE MILLION LESSONS FOR THE CHURCH TO LEARN FROM THIS STORY AS WE SEEK TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN TODAY’S WORLD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE DO NOT WORSHIP JESUS AS MUCH AS WE CELEBRATE JESUS AS OUR WAY TO KNOW GOD.
JESUS POINTS THE WAY, AND WE WORSHIP GOD.
THEN WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES, WHAT ARE THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH?
WHO ARE THE FEVERISH WOMEN WE ARE CALLED TO TAKE BY THE HAND?
WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR, NEEDING AND WANTING TO BE HEALED AND WHOLE?
WHERE DO WE ESCAPE TO A DESERTED PLACE IN ORDER TO BE REMINDED OF OUR TRUE CALLING?
WHAT IS THE NEXT MINISTRY WE ARE BEING CALLED TO?
THESE QUESTIONS, LIFTED UP TO THE COMMUNITY OF NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, COME AS A REAL CHALLENGE TO ME.
I BELIEVE WE TRY, ON A DAILY BASIS, TO DEAL WITH THE EVIL SPIRITS OF RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA, PREJUDICE OF ANY KIND, AND HATRED OF ALL KINDS.
WE DON’T DO IT PERFECTLY, BUT THEN WHO DOES?
I BELIEVE A LOT OF WHAT WE ALREADY DO IS PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE TRY, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES, TO BE THE LIVING BODY OF CHRIST BY BEING THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
OUR CHOICE TO BE A MORE LIGHT CONGREGATION IS A CHOICE TO BE THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
OUR CHOICE TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS A CHOICE TO BE THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
OUR CHOICE TO WORK WITH THE SALVATION ARMY IS A CHOICE TO BE THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
OUR CHOICE TO TRAVEL TO NICARAGUA IS A CHOICE TO BE THE NEARNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
SO WHAT IS NEXT FOR US?
IF THIS IS OUR CAPERNAUM, THEN WHERE IS OUR GALILEE?
WHAT WILL OUR NEXT STEPS BE?
WELL, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF TODAY’S STORY FOR US, IN THIS TIME AND PLACE, IS THE PART ABOUT JESUS GETTING UP IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING AND GOING TO A DESERTED PLACE TO PRAY.
WE HAVE JUST COME OFF A TIME OF STRUGGLING WITH THE EVIL SPIRITS OF FEAR AND DOUBT.
WE HAVE DISAGREED WITH ONE ANOTHER – SOMETIMES PRETTY INTENSELY – AND WE HAVE SOMETIMES FORGOTTEN THE LOVE THAT BINDS US TOGETHER.
I SEE THIS AS A TIME IN THE LIFE OF NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOR US TO LEAVE THE INTENSITY OF CONFRONTATION AND GATHER TOGETHER IN OUR OWN DESERTED PLACE OF PRAYER.
IT’S TIME TO REFOCUS AND REGROUP.
IT’S TIME TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US, NO MATTER WHAT, AND THAT GOD EXPECTS US TO SLOW OUR PACE FOR A WHILE BEFORE GOING ON WITH THE RACE.
THIS IS WHY I LOVE THE WORDS OF ISAIAH SO MUCH.
EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS AS IF WE HAVE EXHAUSTED OURSELVES DOING THE WORK OF GOD IN SEEKING TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST, WE CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON GOD RENEWING OUR STRENGTH.
IT IS IN THE QUIET OF THE DESERTED PLACE THAT GOD CAN LIFT US UP AND CARRY US AS ON EAGLE’S WINGS.
IT IS IN THE CALM FOLLOWING THE STORM THAT GOD CAN REMIND US OF OUR REASON FOR BEING.
AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE IMPORTANT TIME FOR THE NAURAUSHAUN CHURCH COMMUNITY TO BE IN PRAYER TOGETHER AND IN WORSHIP TOGETHER.
NOW THAT OUR TRUE IDENTITY IS RIGHT OUT THERE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE, WE NEED TO HEAR GOD TELLING US WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE.
AND SO I WOULD CALL US ALL TO TAKE A BREATH, FIND A DESERTED PLACE, A PLACE WITHOUT ALL OF THE DISTRACTIONS OF FAME AND GLORY – WITHOUT ALL OF THE NEEDY VOICES.
LET US REMEMBER THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS MORE ABOUT JUSTICE THAN IT IS ABOUT US.
WE ARE TO CARRY THE MESSAGE, BUT THE FINAL OUTCOME IS THAT THE GLORY OF GOD IS LIFTED IN US.
MAY IT ALWAYS BE TRUE. ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 18:15-22 & Mark 1:21-28
WELL, I HATE TO WHINE, BUT IT REALLY STINKS WHEN THE CURRENT ISSUES OF THE DAY SEEM TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LECTIONARY PASSAGES FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP.
AND AS I LOOK AT THE EVENTS OF THIS WEEK; THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS FROM THE PRESIDENT AND THE TOTALLY UNEXPECTED DEMISE OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA, WHEN I LOOK AT THESE TWO CURRENT EVENTS AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF PROPHETIC AUTHORITY AND THE EXORCISM OF AN EVIL SPIRIT, I HAVE TO ADMIT I AM STUMPED.
SOMETIMES THE ANCIENT AND THE CONTEMPORARY HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME MEETING IN THE MIDDLE, AND TODAY SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THOSE DAYS.
SO MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT THIS TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT WE COME UP WITH.
IN THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY WE FIND A STORY FROM THE END OF MOSES’ LIFE.
MOSES ASSURES THE PEOPLE THAT AFTER HIS DEATH GOD WILL RISE UP NEW PROPHETS WHO WILL SPEAK WITH GOD’S AUTHORITY JUST AS HE HAS.
THE PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH OF THE WORDS OF THE NEW PROPHETS BECAUSE WHAT THEY SAY WILL COME TRUE.
NOW SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SUGGEST THAT IN THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE ONE WHO WILL COME WITH THE AUTHORITY OF GOD, MOSES WAS MAKING A DIRECT PREDICTION OF THE COMING OF JESUS.
BUT IT SEEMS MORE FAITHFUL TO HISTORY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY PROPHETS WHO HAVE BROUGHT AN AUTHORITATIVE WORD FROM GOD TO THE WORLD.
I IMMEDIATELY THINK OF PEOPLE LIKE MOTHER THERESA, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., GANDHI, AND MAYBE EVEN ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO.
AND EVEN EARLIER THAN JESUS WE HAVE ELIJAH, ISAIAH, MICAH AND DEBORAH.
THESE PEOPLE ARE CLEARLY SAINTS OF GOD IF NOT PROPHETS TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
I WONDER WHAT A PROPHET OF GOD WOULD SAY IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.
I’M NOT A PROPHET, SO I DON’T HAVE A CLUE.
BUT I WONDER - IS GOD SPEAKING THROUGH MR. BUSH?
WILL THE ACTIONS THAT FOLLOW HIS WORDS GIVE INTEGRITY TO HIS AUTHORITY?
OR WILL WE FIND OURSELVES WORSHIPPING FALSE GODS IF WE FOLLOW THE PROPHECY OF A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST IRAN?
I HAD A DAYDREAM YESTERDAY.
WHAT IF WE TOOK ALL OF THE MONEY WE SPEND ON WEAPONS, ALL OF THE PERSONNEL IN OUR ARMED FORCES AND ALL OF THE ENERGY WE EXPEND IN HATING THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT AND ITS LEADERS AND USED THESE RESOURCES FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS BEING SUGGESTED?
WHAT IF WE BOUGHT BOOKS AND FOOD AND HOUSING AND CLOTHING WITH THE FUNDS WE USE FOR WEAPONS?
WHAT IF WE TRAINED OUR ARMED FORCES TO LOVE INSTEAD OF TO FIGHT?
WHAT IF THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE AND MARINES WERE ALL TRAINED TO TEACH THE CHILDREN AND SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE?
WHAT IF IT WAS A UNIVERSAL REQUIREMENT FOR ALL SOLDIERS TO KNOW HOW TO RELATE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE A PRODUCT OF AN EXTREMELY DIFFERENT SOCIETY THAN THE ONE WE KNOW?
WHAT IF THE OUTCOME OF SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES WAS MATURITY AND SOCIAL INTERACTION RATHER THAN BUILDING MUSCLES AND SHOOTING A GUN?
WHAT IF THE UNITED STATES’ PRESENCE AS A SUPER POWER MEANT THAT WE BRING HEALING AND WHOLENESS TO IMPOVERISHED COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD?
WHAT IF WE MADE SADDAM HUSSEIN AND OSAMA BIN LADEN LOOK LIKE FOOLS BY SHOWING OUR COMPASSION AND WISDOM RATHER THAN OUR STRONG ARM OF DEFENSE?
IS THIS DREAM PROPHETIC OR JUST A PIPEDREAM?
WOULD GOD CHOOSE TO ACT UPON A PROPHETIC WORD LIKE THIS?
WOULD WE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE WORLD PEACE WE ALL PRAY FOR?
I DON’T KNOW.
AND UNFORTUNATELY I DON’T THINK WE WILL EVER KNOW.
BUT STOP AND THINK, WHAT WAS THE LAST WORD WE EVER HEARD FROM A PROPHET?
I THINK IT WAS THE REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
IN 1957 DR. KING SAID, “NONVIOLENCE IS ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT TO THE WAY OF LOVE.
LOVE IS NOT EMOTIONAL BASH; IT IS NOT EMPTY SENTIMENTALISM.
IT IS THE ACTIVE OUTPOURING OF ONE’S WHOLE BEING INTO THE BEING OF ANOTHER.”
DR. KING WAS A PROPHET AND WE EXPERIENCE THE TRUTH OF HIS WORDS IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES, OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE KNOW THAT HIS WORDS COULD COME TRUE ON A UNIVERSAL LEVEL IF WE WOULD RISK.
BUT WE DON’T RISK.
AND THE PROPHECY IS NOT FULFILLED.
THE JESUS OF MARK’S GOSPEL CONFRONTS THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT, THE EVIL SPIRIT THAT TAKES ON HUMAN FORM IN OUR PERSONAL FEARS.
THE WORLD BEFORE JESUS WAS AFRAID OF WHAT WAS UNCLEAN.
THEY BELIEVED THAT OUR OWN PURITY WAS DAMAGED IF WE CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE IMPURITY OF OTHERS.
JESUS SHOWED A DIFFERENT WAY OF DEALING WITH LIFE.
JESUS TOOK ON THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT.
JESUS WAS WILLING TO SAY THAT HIS OWN PURITY COULD CONFRONT THE EVIL, RATHER THAN EXPECTING THAT HIS GOODNESS WOULD BE COMPROMISED BY THE EVIL SPIRIT.
JESUS STOOD UP TO THE EVIL OF FEAR, AND BANISHED IT FROM THE HUMAN CREATURE.
TO THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING JESUS THIS WAS A NEW WAY OF DEALING WITH EVIL SPIRITS.
THIS WAS JESUS SHOWING THE WORLD THAT HE HAD POWER AND AUTHORITY OVER THAT WHICH COULD DESTROY.
WE HAVE SEEN OUR SHARE OF DESTRUCTION.
WE KNOW WHAT DESTRUCTION LOOKS LIKE.
AS I WATCHED THE STORY OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA UNFOLD ON TELEVISION YESTERDAY MORNING I WAS TAKEN BACK TO A DAY IN 1986.
THE DAY WAS JANUARY 28TH.
I WAS IN THE STUDENT COMMONS AT DREW UNIVERSITY.
I WAS WATCHING THE TAKEOFF OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER.
I HAD SEEN CHRISTIE McAULIFFE BEING INTERVIEWED EARLIER ON ONE OF THE MORNING NEWS PROGRAMS.
I WAS SO PROUD OF HER.
“AMERICA’S TEACHER IN SPACE” SHE WAS CALLED.
MY HUSBAND IS A TEACHER.
THERE WAS A CONNECTION, TENUOUS THOUGH IT WAS.
AND I WAS ABSOLUTELY HORROR STRUCK AS I WATCHED HER SPACE SHUTTLE DISINTEGRATE RIGHT BEFORE MY VERY EYES.
I REMEMBER THE SHOCK AND DISBELIEF ON HER PARENT’S FACES AS THEY WATCHED THEIR DAUGHTER’S FINAL MOMENTS, WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SEVEN PEOPLE DIED YESTERDAY MORNING; SEVEN EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE.
ON BOARD THE COLUMBIA THERE WERE TWO WOMEN, FIVE MEN; ONE INDIAN EMIGRANT WHO IS AN AEROSPACE ENGINEER, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN SERVING AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE AIR FORCE, TWO UNITED STATES NAVAL COMMANDERS, ONE FEMALE AND ONE MALE, A NAVAL CAPTAIN, AN AIR FORCE COLONEL, AND A COLONEL IN THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE, THE FIRST ISRAELI EVER TO FLY INTO SPACE.
AND I TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS LOSS MEANS TO US AS CHRISTIANS AND CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AS CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, THIS ONLY ADDS TO THE FEAR WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.
THIS LOSS ONLY ADDS TO THE FEAR OF AN UNSTABLE STOCK MARKET AND THE UNREST ABOUT AN IMPENDING WAR WITH IRAN.
IT MAKES US WONDER IF THINGS WILL EVER FEEL SAFE AND SOLID AGAIN, IN THIS, OUR NATIVE LAND.
BUT WHEN VIEWING CURRENT EVENTS AS CHRISTIANS, THE LOSS OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA RAISES DEEPER ISSUES OF THE FRAILTY OF OUR HUMAN CONDITION AND HOW WE GO ABOUT DEALING WITH THAT.
OUR LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST MEANS TAKING RISKS, LIKE FLYING OFF INTO SPACE IN A SPACE SHUTTLE.
THE KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM TO BE GAINED BY THIS TYPE OF ADVENTURE GOES FAR BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS.
I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE GAINED FROM OUR MANY TRIPS INTO SPACE HAS OUT WEIGHED THE BURDEN OF LOSS WE EXPERIENCE WHEN WE LOSE AN ENTIRE CREW LIKE YESTERDAY, OR LIKE 17 YEARS AGO WHEN THE CHALLENGER DIDN’T EVEN MAKE IT INTO SPACE.
IN 1986, FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF CHALLENGER, PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN HAD THESE WORDS TO SAY TO THE NATION.
“WE’VE GROWN USED TO THE IDEA OF SPACE, AND PERHAPS WE FORGET THAT WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN.
I KNOW IT’S HARD TO UNDERSTAND, BUT SOMETIMES PAINFUL THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.
IT’S ALL PART OF TAKING A CHANCE AND EXPANDING [HUMANITY’S] HORIZONS.
THE FUTURE DOESN’T BELONG TO THE FAINT-HEARTED.
IT BELONGS TO THE BRAVE.”
IN REAGAN’S WORDS TO THE NATION 17 YEARS AGO, I FIND A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR DOING A BRAVE NEW THING.
THE NEW FRONTIER OF OUR DAY AND AGE IS TO GO WHERE WE HAVE NEVER GONE BEFORE.
MAYBE THIS MEANS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH OUR POWER STATUS IN THE WORLD.
THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE BRAVE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE COURAGE IT WOULD TAKE TO WALK RIGHT INTO IRAN WITH A DESIRE FOR PEACE – SHALOM, SALAAM – WHOLENESS, RATHER THAN ATTACKING IRAN WITH DEATH AND DESTRUCTION AND WAR?
PEOPLE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD BELIEVED IN THE PRESENCE OF DEMONS, EVIL POWERS AND VARIOUS TYPES OF COSMIC BEINGS.
BY HEALING A MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT, JESUS IS DEMONSTRATING THAT HE HAS AUTHORITY OVER THESE OTHER FORCES IN THE WORLD.
MARK ESTABLISHES JESUS AS A SYMBOL OF GOD’S POWERFUL PRESENCE.
SO MAYBE THIS IS WHERE THE LECTIONARY PASSAGES CONVERGE WITH THE CURRENT ISSUES OF THIS WEEK.
NO MATTER HOW DISCONCERTING THE EVENTS OF OUR TIMES MAY BE, GOD HAS POWER OVER THE FINAL OUTCOME.
THIS WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
GOD IS THE GREATER POWER AND EVERYTHING WE HUMAN BEINGS HAVE CONTROL OVER IS LESSER THAN THE REALM OF GOD.
JESUS LOOKED EVIL RIGHT IN THE FACE.
JESUS RECOGNIZED IT AND NAMED IT AND BANISHED IT WITH A COURAGEOUS LOVE FOR THE LARGER PICTURE.
AND THIS IS SACRED SPEECH, MY FRIENDS.
WHEN WE CAN SEE WHAT IS EVIL AND SHOUT IT DOWN RATHER THAN SHOOT IT DEAD.
WE HAVE SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE AND SO MUCH WISDOM IN LIGHT OF THE ENTIRE PICTURE OF OUR WORLD.
PLEASE, GOD, LET US GAIN OUR AUTHORITY FROM YOU.
LET US TEACH AND HEAL IN THIS WORLD FILLED WITH PAIN.
LET US KNOW EVIL WHEN WE SEE IT.
AND LET US ACT WITH THE COURAGE OF CHRIST.
AMEN.