Are you hurting or healing?

Continuing from last week’s conversation.  Jesus’ new teaching is the healing of his people.  As we work to define our new teaching we must also ask “Are we hurting or healing?”

Mark 1:29-39

After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The picture at the top is an artists depiction of the woman touching the hem of Jesus’ robe from Mark Ch. 5.  The floor seen in the picture is the actual road where this healing miracle took place.  I also think it is the perfect imagery of our healing being seen as happening on the altar.  this was one of my favorite places I visited in Israel, outside of Jerusalem.

Below are pictures I took in Capernaum.  The top picture is inside the synagogue from the Gospel story last week.  The bottom pictures are on a slide show and the ruins of St. Peter’s House and the Chruch that now exists on top of it.  I thought it would be fun to share the locations mentioned in the Gospel and Sermon.

fullsizeoutput_1066

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

A New Teaching — with Authority!

The people that experienced Jesus at work in the world called it a “New Teaching — with authority.”  I want to challenge us to think what that might look like in our community.  What shapes our life together and how do we be the Chruch?  This is my new teaching vision for Grace Episcopal Chruch in Monroe, LA.

Mark 1:21-28

Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

The Holy Land

The opportunity of a lifetime has fallen into my lap. I will be spending the next 10 days on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  I will see what Jesus saw, pray where Jesus prayed, and walk where Jesus walked (except maybe on the Sea of Galilee), all while following in the footsteps of countless pilgrims who have done the same thing.

I will be there from April 21, 2017 through May 1, 2017.  I will accompany a group from Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Sulfur, LA led by my friend and collegue Mother Ally Perry!

I am hoping to report and journal my trip.  So check back here to see pictures, insights, thoughts, inspirations, reflections and probably some goofs from my time there.

Please comment, share, and check back in.