We don’t like interruptions! We like everything to go smoothly and on our time schedule. Today, many folks woke up to delayed and canceled appointments and flights due to a computer glitch. I always say, ” We like technology when it works!” I just heard from my friend Ginny who has been organizing a large youth event this week asking for prayer. Many of her groups are stranded due to plane flights being canceled. Not what was on anyone’s schedule after a long week! And after a great time of learning and worship, when they are all exhausted, leaders must re-imagine what to do next! Do we see interruptions as gifts or as curses? How do we react when things don’t go as planned?
This week’s Gospel reading is actually interrupted and about interrupted plans.
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.
6:31 He 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.
6:32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
6:33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
6:34 As 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.6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat.
6:54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him
6:55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
6:56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
The disciples have had an incredible journey doing the things that Jesus sent them out to do two by two. But as I’ve said all summer about my dad’s recovery, ” We love miracles, but miracles are exhausting! ” and Jesus knows that these people need a break. They need to take time to process what just happened and all that God did in and through them and they need time to REALLY REST and just BE!
Instead, the crowd follows them and instead of a retreat with Jesus, they get bombarded with lots of people who have lots of needs! Especially the need for food! I would have been totally angry with this interruption! I wouldn’t have had compassion on the crowd. I would have resented the crowd. Thus, I really need Jesus to help me love as he loves, with compassion! I need love and compassion for my self and the people around me when plans don’t go my way.
And honestly, I have needed Jesus to do this for me A LOT THIS WEEK! I felt I was just getting some margin back in my life after 3 months of emotional roller coaster with my dad in hospice and my husband having a heart issue, when the shooting took place on Saturday night. An assassination attempt on the former president… one more gun violence incident in our crazy country, one more mass shooting event, but this one with even more dire consequences. Gun violence and political violence of any kind is horrific. Social media of all kinds went crazy. My peaceful mindset was totally interrupted by fear, stress and anxiety.
How do we find peace and rest when our plans are interrupted?
What do we do when things don’t go our way? or things add to our stress and anxiety?
I got outside and dug in the dirt. I called a friend and chatted about how I was feeling. I owned my feelings of grief, despair, fear and worry. I did some journaling and I painted out my tears and fears.
The Lectionary interrupts the story. We don’t read about the feeding of the five thousand or the disciples leaving to cross the lake and being interrupted by what they thought was a ghost! They’d all witnessed an amazing miracle with the multiplication of bread and fish! and THEN they experienced Jesus walking to them on the water!
Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” JESUS Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed!
We love miracles, but miracles are exhausting! The roller coaster of emotions of the day! I can totally imagine they felt exhausted after all of this! They really need a break!
But instead they get another crowd! Another group of people who surround them and want to be healed by Jesus! Jesus heals the people. But notice that Jesus doesn’t stop them from running around. They ran around the lake to find him. And now they run from town to town to find healing. He doesn’t heal their running. My husband Rob noticed this on Tuesday during our Lectio Divina process with our house church. Jesus heals illnesses and demon possession, but it’s like he expects us to notice our own running about. Like the monastics of old, we need to notice and slow down and pay attention in order to not be exhausted all the time! In order to have margin, we must seek it ourselves, because the crowds will always be running and people and events will always interrupt us!
What speaks to you today? What is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you?
What do you notice from the passage that you didn’t notice before?
What questions come up for you as you listened to the passage?
As you come to this text, what are you in need of from Jesus? REST, PEACE, COMPASSION, SHEPHERDING, CERTAINTY, HEALING? What else? Talk to Jesus about where you are and how you are feeling.
Jesus 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. What kind of REST do you need this week?
The news of the political violence has filled our internet pages this week. Take time to be with your feelings and emotions. Anger, grief, worry, fear, frustration…what else? Talk to Jesus about this.
Here are some things to ponder:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. JESUS
The greatest challenge of the day is: How to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us. Dorothy Day
I think the only choice that will enable us to hold to our vision. . . is one that abandons the concept of naming enemies and adopts a concept familiar to the nonviolent tradition: naming behavior that is oppressive…Barbara Deming
Nonviolence is not inaction. It is not discussion. It is not for the timid or weak…Nonviolence is hard work. It is the willingness to sacrifice. It is the patience to win. Cesar Chavez
Violence just hurts those who are already hurt… Instead of exposing the brutality of the oppressor, it justifies it. Cesar Chavez
Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.
Martin Luther King Jr (1929-1968)
This prayer is from the Catholic Health Association found on Diana Butler Bass’s Newsletter
“Our God will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
Isaiah 2:4
God who is beyond politics and nations,
Christ who transcends the power of violence,
Holy Spirit who animates all people,
Be with us in this moment of violence, division, and turmoil.
Transform our rage and hate that we might see our brothers and sisters with your eyes.
Break our hearts of stone, give us hearts of love and understanding that your peace might prevail. Amen.
LISTEN : REST
PEACE
This is the prayer we close with at our house church each week. It helps me everyday:
CLOSING PRAYER: Lord! Give us grace today to love as you love. Help us to love with extravagance. Give us hope today for ourselves and others. Heal our hurts and our hearts today, So we can serve and help those around us. Help us to know that you are enough. And help us live today and everyday in thankfulness. For all you’ve done and for all you bless us with. In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Give yourself lots of grace this week. Take time to rest. Take time to call a friend, dig in the dirt, get outside for a walk or a swim or even a picnic. Watch for the gifts in the interruptions! Watch for the God surprises along the way. Let Jesus wrap you in his great love and show you his endless compassion. We are all sheep and we need the Good Shepherd. AMEN
©lillylewin and freerangeworship.com