Gospel: Mark 6: 30-34
The Super Bowl is finally here. Two teams and their fanbases have realized their hopes and dreams. Thirty other teams and fanbases have had their hopes dashed, and they are in the midst of a massive bloodletting: coaches are being fired, players are being jettisoned, and angry mobs are taking to sports radio calling for more blood to avenge this disappointment. A crowd that had only weeks ago filled a stadium to cheer on its paid gladiators now calls for their death.
Today we find the crowd following Jesus from place to place. Jesus had fed them, healed them of their infirmities, and taught them many things. He even empowered twelve others to do the same in order to meet the needs and demands of the people. And yet it was not enough. What did the crowd want? They have an expectation that Jesus is the Messiah who will overthrow the Romans; that would solve all their problems.
But Jesus does not meet that expectation. He comes to free us from sin so that we may overcome all other forms of oppression ourselves. The crowd will become disappointed and they will seek a scapegoat, a victim, someone to blame for their disappointment and loss, someone upon whom they can vent their vengeance and anger. This will be Jesus. This crowd, so eager in following the Lord for so long, will turn on him and kill him. But Jesus' death will be his ultimate act of feeding us, healing us, and teaching us as it will bring new life to the world.
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