I have been working on my sermon for Sunday and it is just not "gelling." Now, it's only Thursday morning - there is still plenty of time, so there is no reason to worry - yet. But I can't help thinking about why it won't gel.
Could it be because the gospel text for this Sunday is Mark chapter 6, verses 30-34 and 53-56? This gospel tells about the 12 apostles returning to gather with Jesus after being sent out to do ministry and their profound need for rest. Then it tells about the crowds following Jesus, seeking healing. What, you may ask, happened to verses 35-52? Good question! The left-out section in the middle is the Mark's telling of the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus' walking on water and calming the storm. Two (or three) major miracle stories, probably kept to be told as separate gospel stories, on another day.
But what are we to make of these bits put together for today? I don't think I miss the story in the middle as much as I struggle for a cohesive meaning for the assembled text. There are so many possible directions to go with this text... our need for rest, our need to get together and tell the stories of what we have done and experienced, Jesus' compassion for the hungry and ailing multitude, or his tremendous power - those who simply touched the fringe of his cloak were healed (Mark 6:56).
Since I've just finished reading a book on 'a Sabbath way of life for those who serve God, the church, and the world,' The Sense of the Call, by Marva Dawn, the sermon will probably focus on our need to rest and be refreshed in order to be sent out again to work and witness. But the reality of our need to go to Jesus in prayer to tell him all we "have done and taught" (Mark 6:30) and to gather together to tell each other those stories is very powerful as well.
Guess that's what led me to this entry. May we each take time today to talk with Jesus AND to talk with each other about our lives - our work, our experiences, our needs, our hopes, and our dreams. That is the way we can help build up the community of believers, the church, the body of Christ.
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2 comments:
Hi Ray,
I am having simialr difficulty with the text. The RCL uses John's narrative of feeding 5000 next month, that is why it is left out of this week's text.
I am thinking of using the sheep without a shepherd motif as the psalm for the week is Psalm 23.
what does a shepherd do? Guides, feeds, shelters, protects, and sets boundries. What happens to the flock when there is no shepherd? Lost, wandering, hungry, afraid, wanting.....
That is where I am at with this week's sermon. Still some work to do.
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David,
This post was actually by Ruth Ann (look for the name at the end to see which one of us posted it).
I am not preaching this week - but I have the past two weeks. Last week's text had some difficulties as well.
Ray
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