Moved by Ignorance

Something Father Dan said during the homily today really struck a cord with me. Today's reading from Mark chapter 6 verses 30-34-

The apostles gathered together with Jesus
and reported all they had done and taught. 
He said to them,
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” 
People were coming and going in great numbers,
and they had no opportunity even to eat. 
So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. 
People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. 
They hastened there on foot from all the towns
and arrived at the place before them.

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them,
for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.

Often  times in the Gospels Jesus is moved by pity, compassion, or the faith of the people around him. In many of those cases he performs miracles of healing. When you think about it, the time and energy for Jesus to heal some one is generally seen as something that happens instantaneously and with minimal effort of Jesus' part. 

But in today's Gospel, Jesus and the disciples were tired, hungry, and just needed to rest in quiet a bit. But when he saw the crowds he was moved with pity for them. Not because they were in need of physical healing, but because they were lost. He was moved by their ignorance and desire to learn, to be shepherded. This is not some instant fix, but something that required Jesus to spend his time and energy (of which he was running low, remember? He hadn't eaten, and was physically tired BEFORE getting into the boat!). But this was important, he saw the people's need to learn, to be led, and he took the time to meet their need. 

Father Dan this morning quoted St. Jose Maria Escriva on this- "Jesus is moved by hunger and sorrow, but what moves him most is ignorance."  

Lord, help me to recognize my ignorance and lead me to You and Your understanding. Thank you for being willing to spend time with me, to teach me an lead me to greater understanding.

Mark resources for Chapters 3 and 4

I hope to get a post up about the last couple of sessions, but for now here's an assortment of links that I used to find more information for our study-

http://www.bibleplaces.com/mounttabor.htm
http://www.bibleplaces.com/mtbeatitudes.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_4
http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8963
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11460a.htm

Gospel of Mark Bible Study Chapter 1:29- 2:12

Today we spent a good bit of time reviewing the themes of Chapter 1, and answering the questions in the book.

We pick up at Verse 28 in Chapter 1 where Jesus, having cast out the demon, to the astonishment of the crowds ("What is this?! A new teaching?!") IMMEDIATELY leaves the synagogue and goes to the home of Simon and Andrew. His fame is spreading, but he doesn't bask in it, or continue to teach, but immediately goes to the home he will use as his homebase. There he encounters Simon's mother-in-law who is sick. She is the first one that Jesus heals in Mark's gospel. This healing (albeit a private one) took place during the Sabbath, and begins Jesus's ministry of healing by TOUCHING the afflicted. It's not until that evening, after the Sabbath that the entire town of Capernaum comes to the house with their sick and possessed. How many people would that have been? According to Wikipedia about 1500!

The next morning he went out alone, to a solitary place to pray. We see this cycle throughout the gospels. Jesus dealing with the crowds; healing, teaching, and preaching and then going out alone to pray. How human of him! :) Taking time to be alone with God, to recharge, gather strength to face the next day, the next challenge.

When Simon and the others come to find him and tell him that everyone is looking for him, he says basically, 'Let's get this thing started, this is why I'm here, to preach the gospel throughout the land'. So they went, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons. Those two are linked often. Did the demon possessed gather around the synagogue? Were they brought there for healing? Were they drawn there by the demons? Interesting questions.

In 1:40 we see the first time we see Jesus heal some one who is considered 'unclean' by Jewish law. Jesus reaches out and touches the man to make him clean. Mark brings home the point later that Jesus' touch makes the other person clean, it does not make him unclean. The power of that touch. Likely the first human contact the man had experienced in years. It shows how approachable Jesus is, that he identifies with us. It shows his power over the Old Covenant rules, how that his holiness conquers the uncleanliness of the leper. He has the man still go through the proscribed steps to show himself to the priest so that he can again be part of the community. And...tells him to tell no one what he had done.

This is Mark's emphasis on the Messianic Secret. It's a thread that runs throughout the first half of his gospel. Why did Jesus do this? There are several thoughts on this-
1) He wanted to avoid the reputation  that he was merely (merely!) a miracle worker or healer
2) He wanted to steer away from the popular ideas of the time of what the Messiah would be like- a military leader and great warrior.
3) He didn't want to give his enemies time until the appointed time to fire up their wrath.
(paraphrased from the Gospel of Mark Ignatius Catholic Study Bible notes)

(CH 2:1-12 will be added soon...hopefully!)


In looking at Chapter 2 through Chapter 3:6 we see 5 scenes in which Jesus' actions lead to encounters with the Pharisees. Here are a couple of links to more information about the Pharisees from both a Jewish and Catholic perspective-

Jewish Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia

I think that reading about them from the perspective of modern Judaism is absolutely fascinating!

(More to come later!)

The Gospel of Mark Bible Study Chapter 1- 1:1-28

Our Prayer today-

Here are some links we'll talk about in Bible Study Today-

Peter's home (Jesus' HQ) in Capernum

The Interlinear Greek New Testament

Here's a link to more about Lectio Divina, the method we used to read scripture at the end of our session- Lectio Divina

My thoughts and commentary to follow, after we meet today. I look forward to your thoughts, comments, and insights (even if you're not part of our Bible Study!)!

Who Do You Say That I Am?

A study on the Gospel of Mark, from the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible with Commentary, Notes, and Study Questions by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch

My thoughts and comments on Mark 1:1-28 from Sunday March 9, 2014