Genesis 49:29-50:14
Psalms 94, 95, 97, 99,100
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Mark 8:1-10
In the preparation of this meditation I read the assigned passages in Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” (given in italics). What a down-beat theme most of that seemed to be. Lamentations – Jerusalem remembers the day she lost everything - Jerusalem, who out-sinned the world, is an outcast. Psalm 51 – I know how bad I’ve been -. Psalm 69 - God, God save me, I’m in over my head -. Even in Mark’s Gospel Jesus curses a fig tree! However, by the time I got to Paul’s 2nd Corinthians the message became clear to me – God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times and before you know it he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.
I give thanks for the wonderful loving and helpful congregation we have at Holy Spirit – the parish really is a family of friends helping friends In the name of Christ. So, the message that I see is that in a recent sermon to us by John Newton (and “echoed” by Bishop Doyle in his Diocesan Address) – Do not be afraid – Jesus is right there with you.
We all have that pride and ill placed self-assurance that we can beat all the hard times alone and we keep it all ”secret.” Well, it seldom works. Step one is right there in Psalm 69 and one should acknowledge - God, God save me, I’m in over my head. Step two is to tell the secret and you will see the flood gates of support pouring out relief.
Remember - DO NOT BE AFRAID.
John McGarvey