Mark’s Gospel makes no mention of a baby in a manger, shepherds or angels.
In Mark we are introduced to the grown up, ready to act Jesus.
Be revitalized by knowing this Jesus, attuned to our darkness of despair, disbelief and aching loneliness that affects many humans today. This is where we find the ‘Gold’ without the ‘Glitter’.
Despite the ‘shaking’ at times we have the ability to look forward into the future with hope.
The church needs to be a ‘generator’ of hope and reflect on values that last forever.
Not to build little kingdoms, but a sense of hope in Christ that will last for ever.
What kind of king was Jesus?
A king who is also a shepherd who knows us, loves and forgives us.
A king who walked dusty roads, served with a towel and a bowl.
A ruler who sees us as his children and walks with us in joys and sorrows.
St Francis of Assisi talked about “always living at the bottom of society, as only there can we really experience the truth.
If we love the poor – the poor one around us and within us – we will increase our compassion for, and act against, injustice”.
Being wise – as opposed to being foolish. Being prepared – as opposed to trusting our luck.
Macro view is having everything in order and just waiting for the time of the return of Christ;
Micro view is being prepared for the daily coming of the Spirit into our lives, drawing closer to God;
and those around us, focusing on the here and now to prepare for the future.
Journeying in our world today requires humility.
The falseness of those who do not ‘practice what they preach’ is not tolerated.
Jesus requires us to love mercy and to walk humbly with God as His followers.
The ‘Upside Down Kingdom of God’ tells us something about ourselves and that our day to day way of operating, is not the same as the way God operates.
Greatness in his followers is about serving. Leaders are the servants of all and God’s Grace is there for everyone.
The power of God’s extravagant forgiveness is so great, so
beautiful, so mystifying, that it surely cannot help but change us.
We cannot experience it and then go on being closed to others.
Restorative justice calls out oppression and violence for the evil they are and judges them: forgiven.
What is our purpose in life? Someone answered this way, “Its
love, isn’t it. The reason we exist is to love and be loved”
Jesus was very practical in the way he demonstrated love for the world, through all the good and bad times of his life.
Practical love, like all love is found in the big and small things in life, the good times and the bad. Seek it out.
Jesus wasn’t into an easy and attractive message. Not something
an advertising agency would want to address.
He calls us to take up the cross, to share the burden of the world.
Carrying the cross is a way of life. It is about putting God first.
