January 25 2009

Year B 3rd Sunday After the Epiphany


Mark 1:14-20

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news" (1:15)

The prophet had spoken (1:2,3), John had spoken (1:7), and even God had spoken (1:11). Now Jesus speaks - and his ministry begins.

Mark does not worry about the birth narrative that commence the gospels of Matthew and Luke, nor is there any of the cosmic scene setting of the majestic overture in John (Jn 1:1-18). Instead he chooses to begin with a short statement about his writing "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (1:1) this is what his book, our gospel of Mark, is about - good news.

Before Jesus even makes an appearance in Mark's story he has been endorsed by those who have spoken. The prophetic voices prepare for his coming and introduce John the baptiser. This Elijah figure prepares us for 'one more powerful' whose sandals John is not worthy to tie. Yet it is to John that Jesus comes, and without the discussion about status that Matthew includes, it is this unworthy servant who baptises Jesus. Confirmation of Jesus worth and status is given by God in the baptismal event. God breaks in, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the divine voice speaks words of affirmation (1:10-11).

Spiritual affirmation is followed by a time of testing (1:12,13) and then Jesus begins his ministry. He proclaims the 'good news of God' in Galilee.

Without explanation, without defining his terms, Mark uses 'good news' three times (1:1,14,15) - it is the good news of Jesus Christ, the good news of God and then there is a call to 'believe the good news'. For Mark and his readers this phrase was pregnant with meaning - it was to the followers of Jesus what the 'kingdom of God' was to the Jews. It carried its own history and understanding, and created its own expectation. Words are vessels that carry ideas and meaning - and ore often "filled with expereince that overflows the vessels" (Fromm, "The Essential Fromm: Life Between Having and Being", 62). I wonder what meanings the words 'good news' carry for you!

'Good news' for one is not always understood as good news for another. The family that thinks clear skies and sunny days in winter stands in contrast to the farmer for whom good news would be days of drenching rain at that time. And what is not seen as 'good news' in the present moment may well prove to be so in the long run. A young friend lost his job in a corporate restructure. That redundancy was the catalyst for study, a satisfying new career, and the opening of doors into an area where his compassion and caring nature is expressed daily in healing ministries. Not good news at the time, but ultimately very good news. WAS God in that? Yes, absolutely Yes.

It is the ultimate good news that we seek - and Jesus came proclaiming the 'good news' and the 'kingdom of God'. What is Mark's good news? Jesus himself, and the ushering in of the kingdom of God - they are good news.

After this brief summary statement about the commencement of Jesus activities the first disciples are called - Simon and his brother Andrew. We see them as simple fisherman, and they were, but the were also small businessmen really. Their response is immediate - they left their nets and followed him (1:18). James and John are next. They, too, leave their nets and follow (1:20).

The gospels are about real people -and rarely, if ever, would someone leave everything and tag along with an unknown stranger. I suspect that Jesus reputation had preceded him, and Mark's lack of time indicators masks what may have been significant period of time, time that allowed Jesus reputation to build, and to reach their ears.

Even so for these four fishermen to leave their daily tasks and join this itinerant preacher was a huge step.

I said I would follow Jesus when I was a 15 year old. It meant a commitment of my life to him. It did not mean leaving home, family and friends at that time.
I said I would follow Jesus as an 18 year old. It meant being available to him so that my life would be used in his service, wherever and whenever. It did not mean leaving home, family and friends at that time.
Saying 'yes' to Jesus was easy compared to the responses of those first four disciples. I still try to say 'yes' to Jesus - I still follow him - and while my life has involved a great deal of change I am yet to experience the great upheaval of those four. Maybe, just maybe,they did not consider it hard either, because they were responding to what God was saying to them.
From the outside it might look hard. On the inside it is just following Jesus, experiencing the good news of Jesus, and living in the Kingdom of God.

Discipleship in the gospel of Mark is about following Jesus. As you read this gospel consider what it meant for those Jesus called to be with him, and ask "What does it mean for me as I follow Jesus in my time and my place?"