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21st century America, busy life, gratitude, healing, human being, Jesus, Letter to the Hebrews, Mark, miracles, pain, Paul, praying, suffered, tested, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, witness of Jesus
There’s a line in the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews this morning that stopped me. “Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,” it says, “he is able to help those who are being tested.” For those who have difficulty seeing Jesus as a really, fully, human being, “tested” in everyday life as he went about his ministry, this is a good line to ponder. It also should help as we try to do our best in supporting others, knowing their pain because of our own in similar circumstances.
Identifying with Jesus in our lives is also given a boost by the gospel today (MK 1:29-39). Within 10 verses, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law, works through the evening casting out demons and healing a “whole town gathered at the door,” rises before dawn to find a deserted place to pray, then moves on to nearby villages when summoned by his disciples to start the whole process all over again that day. Oh, yes – and he preached there too. It sounds like the rhythm of life in 21st century America.
Today I’ll have some time in my car to think about this stream of events and to offer gratitude to God for the witness of Jesus as he was able to maintain a stance of love and patience even when he was bone tired and wanted the world to go away.
The Sophia Center for Spirituality 