Meditation on the Readings - May 27

Friday of the First Week of Gracetide

First Reading: Acts 23: 12-22
Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 35-45

In his travels, Jesus encounters a man who is afflicted with leprosy. Jesus cures him. Jesus sends him away and tells him not to tell anyone about what happened.

In his travels, Paul is faced with interrogation, rejection, attempts on his life, and (as we know from history) his own death.

Thus, between our two readings today, we have a valuable moral lesson to show, and an answer to the question, "Why didn't Jesus want anyone told about what he was doing?"

All to often (at least, for our own comfort), our lives are thrown for curves and dips that we are unable to anticipate and that we are often unable to comprehend. For many people, when their lives sink to this level, prayer for a miracle is their only hope - and when that hope fades, so does their faith.

Paul was not spared hardship, and he repeatedly told the followers of Jesus that neither would they be spared hardships. Hardship and pain is a part of the growing process, and it is often the worst part of it, because we have a hard time understanding why our loving God can be what we describe as cruel or inhuman towards us. And yet, we always re-echo the words in the Church, "Your ways are not my ways, says the LORD."

The Lord indeed has his own ways about things, and like you, I struggle daily with elements of his will and his plan for my life.

So, what does all of this have to do with why our Lord did not want the cured man to go and tell everyone about what happened? After all, such a publicity jolt would be great, right? Well, not really... and here is why.

Too many Christians today have marketed the 'miracle-working power' of the Gospel (TM). While I'l never disagree that our God is a miracle-working God, he is neither compelled to or ready to work what we want in every case, because often our will runs contrary with his. And yet, today, I can tell you from personal experience that I have attended funerals of individuals whose corpses were surrounded by wagging heads, each saying in turn, "If s/he had only had enough faith..."

Death, dying, pain, and suffering are inevitable parts of living. It comes with the territory of human existence, because we are subject to the fallen nature and incinations of our Fathers. To proclaim God's miracle working power to the near-exclusion of doctrine (save miracle doctrines) and to the exclusion of repentance... this makes a mockery out of the true nature of the Gospel. The Gospel is set forth for guidance in faith, repentance, and right living. Through it and the remaining Scriptures, we are equipped for every good work we are enflamed to do.

The Gospel is confirmed by signs and wonders, but it is not a gospel of signs and wonders. The Gospel is so much deeper! Praise God!

And remember, the next time you are in the room with a 90 year old woman of faith who is dying... her death to this world is just as much a miracle as any healing... for through death her body is released, and through grace and faith she is delivered from everlasting death... there is no greater gift, no more impressive miracle, than to be preserved faithful through difficulty and brought to everlasting life.

PLEASE NOTE: There will probably be no further Meditations/Reflections until next Wednesday, though the proper for Gracetide 2 will be posted later this evening. Please pray for the safe travel of Father Lyons and Bishop Davis as they journey back to Tennessee for a weekend of fellowship with some of our Synod's new friends.