OzThoughts Tuesday 13th January 2009

OzThoughts Tuesday 13th January 2009

I love Mark’s Gospel because he tells the stories so simply. May I suggest you read this incident and then think about it with me.

Mark 1:21-28 (The Message)
21-22 Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.
23-24 Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, "What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you're up to! You're the Holy One of God, and you've come to destroy us!"
25-26 Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!" The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out.
27-28 Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. "What's going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!" News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.

How do you cope with interruptions? I once worked with a Fundraising Manager of a very large charity with many, many volunteers. One day, he said to me “I can’t stand these interruptions. I am sitting here working on my project and the phone rings and it is some volunteer wanting to talk about fundraising. Then I get back to my work and then a volunteer walks into my office as if she owns it and just wants to say hello or discuss some idea she has for fundraising. Can’t they see I have my work to do?”

I suggested to him that the volunteers saw him as the manager of fundraising for the whole organization and as a mentor or expert in their local fundraising efforts. I tried to suggest that he would have to take hold of these interruptions and maybe suggest a better time to call or to make an appointment rather than just walk in.

As we read through Mark’s Gospel we see that Jesus makes a ministry of interruptions. Today, we have read of Jesus spending the day teaching, and he is interrupted by someone who needs healing. This will happen time and time again. Mark’s Gospel I have heard referred to as the “Action Gospel”.

This is not wrong but those of us who are inclined to want action and not listen to preaching and teaching (or have to preach and teach) should note that so often the action comes as an interruption to Jesus teaching ministry.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, so often I have a plan that I am working on or have set some goals and something happens to disturb those plans. I ask you to show me if those interruptions are a part of your plan for me. Help me not to show anger and frustration at the intrusion but to welcome it as an opportunity to minister for you as Jesus did. Amen.

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_953.mp3
“Meditation on a Theme by Spohr” Eric Ball. This hymn can be sung to the hymn tune “Spohr”.]

Father, I know that all my life
Is portioned out for me;
The changes that will surely come,
I do not fear to see;
I ask thee for a patient mind,
Intent on pleasing thee.

I ask thee for a thoughtful love,
Through constant watching, wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles,
And wipe the weeping eyes;
A heart at leisure from itself,
To soothe and sympathize.

I ask thee for the daily strength
To none that ask denied,
A mind to blend with outward life
While keeping at thy side;
Content to fill a little space
If thou be glorified.

In service which thy love appoints
There are no bonds for me;
My secret heart is taught the truth
That makes thy children free:
A life of self-renouncing love
Is one of liberty.

Wherever in the world I am,
In whatsoe'er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts
To keep and cultivate,
A work of lowly love to do
For him on whom I wait.
Author: Anna Laetitia Waring (1823-1910)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 485
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