Wednesday, March 29, 2006
From AscensionNYC
Wednesday in the Fourth Week of Lent
Psalm 119:121-144
Genesis 50:15-26
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Mark 8:11-26
One of the things that struck me in today's readings was Christ's exchange with his disciples on the boat as they headed to Bethsaida.
This is right after performing the miracle with the loaves and fishes, when he fed thousands of people. Jesus was then asked by the Pharisees for a sign from heaven. Right! Thanks for the magic dinner, now how about conjuring up some dessert? In his profound disappointment ("he sighed deeply in his spirit") that no one seemed to understand that it's not all about pulling rabbits out of hats, he warned his disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod, as in: The System Is Corrupt.
This metaphor is absolutely lost on the poor disciples, who are freaking out because they have only one loaf of bread on the boat to share. Now Christ is going on about yeast and in their short-sighted, literal, linear, hungry little mortal minds they're like, "See? The whole bread thing's a disaster."
"Why are you talking about having no bread?" he asks. Not a good day to be Jesus.
You'd think that if anyone at any given time in history would have legitimate reason to stop worrying about where their next meal was coming from, it would be the disciples of Jesus after witnessing what had just occurred with the bread and fish. Not to mention knowing what he can do with wine. But no. It's scary to be on a boat with that many men and only one loaf of bread.
That's where I am, mentally and emotionally, most of the time -- right there with those disciples. I worry about my bank balance, I worry about whether I can afford the things I think I need, I worry about holding on to the things that make me feel secure. I become bogged down in the minutia of my life and fail to see the big picture. How many miracles do I need to witness before I start to trust in the glory and abundance of God's love?
Jesus asks, "Do you not yet understand?"
I have seen beautiful things. At some level I get it, but on another level I worry about my daily bread. The challenge is to get over the bread and see the miracles, big and small, that occur every day.
Genesis 50:15-26
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Mark 8:11-26
One of the things that struck me in today's readings was Christ's exchange with his disciples on the boat as they headed to Bethsaida.
This is right after performing the miracle with the loaves and fishes, when he fed thousands of people. Jesus was then asked by the Pharisees for a sign from heaven. Right! Thanks for the magic dinner, now how about conjuring up some dessert? In his profound disappointment ("he sighed deeply in his spirit") that no one seemed to understand that it's not all about pulling rabbits out of hats, he warned his disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod, as in: The System Is Corrupt.
This metaphor is absolutely lost on the poor disciples, who are freaking out because they have only one loaf of bread on the boat to share. Now Christ is going on about yeast and in their short-sighted, literal, linear, hungry little mortal minds they're like, "See? The whole bread thing's a disaster."
"Why are you talking about having no bread?" he asks. Not a good day to be Jesus.
You'd think that if anyone at any given time in history would have legitimate reason to stop worrying about where their next meal was coming from, it would be the disciples of Jesus after witnessing what had just occurred with the bread and fish. Not to mention knowing what he can do with wine. But no. It's scary to be on a boat with that many men and only one loaf of bread.
That's where I am, mentally and emotionally, most of the time -- right there with those disciples. I worry about my bank balance, I worry about whether I can afford the things I think I need, I worry about holding on to the things that make me feel secure. I become bogged down in the minutia of my life and fail to see the big picture. How many miracles do I need to witness before I start to trust in the glory and abundance of God's love?
Jesus asks, "Do you not yet understand?"
I have seen beautiful things. At some level I get it, but on another level I worry about my daily bread. The challenge is to get over the bread and see the miracles, big and small, that occur every day.
Sarah Johnson
