1 Epiphany 5: Mark 1:29-39
Reflections on the Gospel Message: “Have you not heard?”
The Rev. Krista Cameron
In last week’s gospel, we were left a Jesus whose fame was spreading throughout the region.
This week, we see Jesus, James, John, Andrew and Peter leaving to go home to Peter’s for a nice
rest….
It must have been hard on Jesus to experience fame so quickly and everyone wanted a part of
him. Can you imagine when you want to go home and rest and there are masses of people at
your door asking for you?
Hearing these early stories of Jesus and his ministry; I could hear strains of Judas as a disciple
asking Jesus:
“Jesus Christ, Super Star, “Do you think you’re who they say you are.”
Then my mind wandered to other super heroes such as Spiderman and Superman…action heroes
saving people from destruction and death, coming to the rescue at a moment’s notice. Just a
quick change of clothing and they were immediately transformed!
It must be tough to be so famous…internally driven to help people in trouble and getting rid of
the bad guys.
Superheroes have hidden identities; doing amazing things in their physical transformation. But,
but when back in their normal clothing; they appear to be bumbling through life in a rather timid
style. No one would suspect they were action heroes!
Jesus did amazing things in the synagogue; in a very public way.
Jesus did amazing things in the intimacy of a home; in a very private way.
Jesus had no special cape, clothing, or mask. He was the same person healing as he was just
being Jesus.
Still, in the early days, people did consider him a healing action figure. He was moving around
the region; acting as God’s agent for healing and restoration…They didn’t care who he was as
long as he performed miracles.
Unlike our action heroes; Jesus is not about power, control, strength, and well…violent means of
ridding the world of evil.
His weapon of choice was compassion and tenderly touching people with kindness and love.
One person at a time, telling stories, sharing meals.
Jesus is a non-violent, gentle action hero.
2 Jesus was restoring people back to their communities.
Jesus was restoring people back to their purpose and meaningful lives.
In some ways, he is the ultimate action hero; saving people, healing people, but here is a game
changer;
He goes away to pray to be with God; who gave him his gifts and his commissioning. It
becomes his pattern when he becomes overloaded, tired, exhausted, and even when he is
frustrated and angry, he goes back to the source of all power and strength.
The other game changer: We also have access to God’s strength and power!
Who do you call on when you need saving. Who do you call when the evil forces attack you
soul and spirit?
Take a look at our Baptismal vows and commissioning:
Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness?
Do you renounce the evil powers in the world?
Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
And finally;
Will you persevere in resisting evil…?
I will—with God’s help!
While attending the installation of one of my colleagues that I mentored, one of our beloved
elder priests and I were with everyone else; taking off our vestments so that we could join
everyone for a meal. He said: “I always feel like superman when I remove my vestments.” And
I just starting laughing as I told him my sermon theme for today…
Yes, we sometimes wear special clothing, (and yes, sometimes I do put on my Love glasses as a
visual) but as Paul reminds all of us:
Put on the spiritual armor of God: Ephesians 6: 10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
Put on the whole armor of God because our enemies are the spiritual forces of evil.
Belt of Truth
Breastplate of righteousness
Shoes to proclaim peace
Shield of Faith
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit--which by the way, is the WORD of God!
We live in a world that has grown accustomed to living in the terror and horror of random acts of
violence. We see young men and women being slaughtered right before our eyes; with their
mothers weeping. It is too much to bear witness to these kinds of “war” crimes.
3 The truth is we will never be physical and mentally prepared 24/7 for random acts of violence,
but we can be prepared spiritually with whatever assaults us. We can rise above violence
begetting violence by walking in peace—not letting evil win over us.
Who makes the biggest impression on you?
1. Those that used violent means to seek justice
2. Those that led quiet revolutions of peace; using their shoes of peace and
not their hands of war?
Even our super hero Superman changed over time to be a hero more of seeking justice than
killing to save and protect the weak? [1930’s-to present day]
We don’t need Krypton powers or spider webs or even a cape, all we need is God’s words of
strength and power and our witness to peace with Justice to make a difference.
Jesus heals and offer us new life every day and we have the power to change and be healed. This
kind of saving and healing comes from the heart and the spirit. Do you want to be healed? Do
want to be restored to your best self; your meaningful God driven life? And the people respond:
I will with God’s help!
Scriptures from Sunday’s readings that enhance the gospel message:
Isaiah 40:21-31
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told to you from the beginning?
(Not by violent means but by the stories and the Spirit of God)
Isaiah was reminding the people that the God of their ancestors is the God; not just one of a
collection of gods to be worshipped.
God gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless.
But those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount with wings like
eagles
They shall run and not be weary
They shall walk and not be faint
(Yes, the shoes and feet for proclaiming peace with justice, not by swords and arrows!)
I Corinthians 9:16-23
Paul says:
I am entrusted with a commission.
(The good liberating, healing spirit of Jesus is free for all us!
We don’t have to have special powers other than the power of the Holy Spirit that is given to us
at our own baptism and commissioning!)