"Great faith merits great rewards. And wherever you set down the foot of hope among the goods of the Lord, they will be yours."
-Bernard of Clairvoux
Friday, June 18, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The Heart of our Healer God
Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer. Simon and his companions searched for him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He replied, “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.” So he went into all of Galilee preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Earlier in Mark 1, John the Baptist's ministry is summed up and immediately after it has run it's course (at the baptism of the Messiah and the arrest of John), Jesus goes forth into the world and begins to preach openly. In the passage i have put up, we see the heart of God displayed in the anonymity of Jesus by His refusal of recognition and praise. All that we see here, at the beginning of Mark's Gospel, is the Son of God going off into "a lonely place" to submit His heart to His Father in order that He may do God's will. In doing this, He openly rejects the praise of men, even of His disciples. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the curing of the sick is all that drives Jesus here. He will not rest until all that the Father has appointed to Him have heard the Good News in the other towns. This is perfect love, this pouring out of the self of God alone is the motivation of God's Sacrifice for us in the beginning of His ministry and at it's end--the cross.
When we consider that Jesus requires us to be like Him, conformed to His teaching and life-purpose let us consider the difficulity of being sincere before God. Let us consider that our baptism and clothing into and of Christ and the difficulties that we will face. Let us keep before is this Scripture as a warning and a promise:
Earlier in Mark 1, John the Baptist's ministry is summed up and immediately after it has run it's course (at the baptism of the Messiah and the arrest of John), Jesus goes forth into the world and begins to preach openly. In the passage i have put up, we see the heart of God displayed in the anonymity of Jesus by His refusal of recognition and praise. All that we see here, at the beginning of Mark's Gospel, is the Son of God going off into "a lonely place" to submit His heart to His Father in order that He may do God's will. In doing this, He openly rejects the praise of men, even of His disciples. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the curing of the sick is all that drives Jesus here. He will not rest until all that the Father has appointed to Him have heard the Good News in the other towns. This is perfect love, this pouring out of the self of God alone is the motivation of God's Sacrifice for us in the beginning of His ministry and at it's end--the cross.
When we consider that Jesus requires us to be like Him, conformed to His teaching and life-purpose let us consider the difficulity of being sincere before God. Let us consider that our baptism and clothing into and of Christ and the difficulties that we will face. Let us keep before is this Scripture as a warning and a promise:
"I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
Also, let the sharp edge of Christ's word pierce you as you consider the great humility of grace poured out and what it calls forth from us:
Also, let the sharp edge of Christ's word pierce you as you consider the great humility of grace poured out and what it calls forth from us:
"But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
God, may Your heart be ours, and may we not be timid or forget to proclaim Your Kingdom to a people in the land of darkness. Bless the words of our mouth and the work of our hands as we await the Day. May You alone be praised!
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