Mark 4: 35-45 Quiet! Be Still!

"Quiet!  Be still" Jesus orders.  Nature follows it master's command.  The Apostles too are comforted and quieted. 

A priest once told me that this is one of the most difficult things to do in life is to be quiet and still.  With my experience, I believe it.  When I started running I chose not to use a device for music.  That meant that I had a lot of quiet time on the trails.  It was really difficult to be alone with my thoughts and no computer, TV or radio for distraction. It helped to bring greater awareness to the need for that quiet in my prayer life.  It is in that stillness that I can turn inward to that voice within, God's voice, that small whisper in my heart, reminiscent of Jesus' small quiet voice in that great storm. I am assured that he is near not only in the good times, but also the turbulent times too. 

It is still difficult for me to sit quietly and just listen.  Our pastor gives us communal prayer for Adoration, but them allows us a quiet period for personal prayer.  I watch people with their prayer books and other religious material.  I tried that, but then realized that I wasn't quieting myself inside, just externally.    I took my inspiration in this thought from my trail runs.  Then I stumbled upon a quote from Mother Teresa, "God speaks in the silence of our hearts, Listening is the beginning of prayer."  I began to focus on one thing only, perhaps a scene from Jesus' life and I would think of what he said to his disciples.  I would put myself into the scene.  That is how I found that quiet place within my heart.  Soon I realized that I was able to think clearly about different things in my life, my priorities were slowly changing.  I even gave up a computer game that I'd played for over a year and replaced it with visiting those in my community who were home bound.  God speaks to people in different ways.  The real question is, are we listening? 

Mark 1:29-39

There are several aspects to this Bible story.  Many women I know lament the fate of Simon's mother-in-law thinking it so unfair, so let's address that.  We know that Jesus and the others have left the synagogue where Jesus was teaching.  that indicates the day of Sabbath, the Lord's day.  No one is to do work that day and food preparations would have to have been taken care of the day before.  Jesus with James and John visit their friends, Simon and Andrew.  Simon's mother-in-law lives with them.  We know that she has a fever.  If you can recall a loved one or yourself who have been sick, especially with a fever, you know how they are quiet, lethargic, and can't eat.  Noise can bother them, they can't read.  They just lay there languishing.  You worry about them and try to get liquids like chicken broth into them so that they do not become dehydrated.  There is always that fear that the temperature can become so great that either it or dehydration could cause death.

Simon and Andrew tell the Lord about her condition: they are in need of his help for her. There is a correlation between this aspect of the story and our own prayers for each other.  Note the words that are used to describe Jesus' actions, "He approached," "He grasped her hand," "He helped her up."  This is what our God does.  Do we not do these for those whom we love?  A love approaches his bride and will tenderly hold her hand.  This is God to us.  But when we are sick as we are with sin, he helps us up and raises us, which is demonstrated through Jesus' ministry as Jesus approaches, grasps her hand, and lifts her up.  When we are lifted up, we become healed.  Isn't it similar on the spiritual level when we are healed, our sins are forgiven?  For the mother-in-law, she was completely healed.  She had no more fever.  Her strength and energy were returned to her.  She was filled with joy at seeing her friends and receiving this gift.  This is her home.  How does she repay this kindness?  She desires to serve him as she is now able to do so.  This should be our desire too when the we are healed.  What better way to give thanks to our God for all his works, than to love and serve the Lord with all our whole self?  As soon as the Sabbath is over she opens her home so that jesus may do the same for others.

Mark 1: 21-28 Voice of Authority

In the Gospel today we are told that Jesus "taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes."  That is a strong statement.  The scribes had the legal authority of leadership over the people.  Jesus is not like them.  His authority is authentic because he is God the Son.  He is wisdom itself. Where they scribes rule with fear and punishment, he rules with peace, love and justice.  Because he is God, we have a duty of obedience to him.  Even the demonic spirit recognizes that, and even names Jesus, "The Holy One of God!"  At the Lord's command the spirit left the possessed man. 

May we ask ourselves whom we take as our supreme authority.  Is it man, or God who instills man with authority to lead?  May we "receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God." (1 Thes. 2:13)  May our hearts look to God the ruler of all and adhere to His laws as citizens of the Kingdom of God first, and then those of our own lands as is illustrated in today's Gospel.  Amen.

Addendum:  I was reminded this morning of the strong correlation between today's scribes and how their modern counterpart are today's managers and administrators.  The business world can sometimes seem like a cold an cut-throat place where the person is often times ignored.  In light of that today's Gospel may be a wake-up call, or a challenge to remember those people that we work with are people with thoughts and feelings too, not the automatons that we sometimes take them for.