The Incessant Crowd

Gospel: Mark 6: 30-34

In this Gospel scene we find Jesus moving about from place to place in order to avoid the crowd.  No matter where he went or however he traveled, they would find him and continue to press upon him.  What were they looking for? He had healed their infirmities, liberated them from their demons, and provided them with food and nourishment.  Jesus sets about to teach them, but were they listening to what he was saying? Do they really understand what he is saying?

They are looking for someone to lead them, to tell them what to do.  They are hoping for a Messiah, someone to liberate them from Roman occupation.  Jesus offers them neither.  The kingdom of God is within us.  If we discover this inner kingdom and learn to heed this inner voice, then we have no need of an external leader of our soul.  Even less do we need a political leader offering false promises and even emptier solutions.  

The Roman empire came and went.  So too have many other empires and regimes.  The world ever strives for power, wealth, influence, and fame.  The kingdom of God is not about those things.  The crowd desires these things.  Jesus teaches us to seek God's kingdom and justice.  The crowd does not understand, and it will take part in Jesus' execution.  The kingdom of God is not of this world.  It is the world within, a world in opposition to this one, a world that offers true peace. 

Role Reversals

Gospel: Mark 6: 14-29

Consider the career of John the Baptist.  He goes into the desert to baptize and preach repentance.  Many come to hear him and receive his message.  Many too will receive baptism at his hands.  This activity is perfectly fine for those in power, as long as it remains out there on the edges and addressed to the commoners.  But when John challenges Herod with his own sin, well, that cannot be tolerated.  So John is arrested and executed on a whim.  

Now consider the modern Christian who praise John the Baptist as a hero of faith.  We find the modern Christian now as apologist for those in power, justifying the sins of the elite - everything from serial adultery to pedophilia and human trafficking.  What is more, this modern Christian rejoices over the open execution of those who would challenge the illegal activity of those in power, nonviolent protestors who stood up to challenge those who abduct others without due process or evidence whatever.  

Modern Christianity looks to blame all sorts of things for its demise other than its own behaviors and hypocrisies.  They would arrest and silence John the Baptist for challenging them for these behaviors as well.  But for those who seek an authentic Christianity, follow the way of John the Baptist, the way of Jesus.  It will likely lead to persecution, prison, and possibly death.  But it is authentic and real.  It is an authentic Italian meal in Milan, while modern Christianity is Olive Garden. 

Mission of Peace

Gospel: Mark 6: 7-13

In today's Gospel portion we are given the mission of the Church and of all Christians.  Jesus sends the disciples out two by two in order to anoint the sick with oil; to provide healing of body, mind, and spirit; to liberate people from the demons that oppress them; and to provide nourishment at table.  We are to do these things living simply with few possessions, accepting the hospitality of others wherever we go in this work of mercy.  

It is worth pondering this dynamic.  Disciples are sent into all sorts of lands, places where they are foreigners and strangers.  They fully expect to be treated well in many places as the law of hospitality was a universal one in ancient times.  Yet, even in the places where they would be mistreated, Jesus instructs them not to be vengeful or hateful.  We are to simply shake the dust from our feet and to move on to the next place.  This is an extension of the mission of peace to which we are sent.

It is ironic that so-called Christians who are so harsh to immigrants, migrants, and refugees want to be welcomed into other countries in order to "evangelize".  They are perfectly OK with Christians violating the laws of other nations in order to do so.  Yet they are unwilling to practice the universal law of hospitality to others, especially the poor, destitute, the refugee and migrant fleeing dire poverty and violence in their homelands.  Today's reading gives us much to ponder...