Now is the time. Time to trust

During this season of Epiphany, when we recall the Gospel story of Christ as the Light of the World to all people living God’s grace and love for all, we seem to be getting a lot of call stories. Last week it was John’s story of the call of Philip and Nathanael. This week it is the call of some of Jesus inner circle. I wonder how John and Mark helps us hear and live our call?

Marks gospel is the beginning of the ongoing story of the good news about Jesus Christ, God’s Son news. That story continues today with you and me. In Mark 1:14 and 15 we hear that, “(A)fter John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” (CEB).

This is a pretty important couple of verses for Mark.. They set the scene and some of the key themes. Enough is enough. It’s time to get on and see the world differently. Time to expand your mind. Time to see the world and your place in it with new eyes. Time to “change your hearts and lives." Time to live the reign of God. Big themes. What Mark thinks Jesus means by all this is what the rest of the gospel is about.

So what do we do with this? What does “now is the time” mean for us today in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic, climate change gathering speed around us, the world seeming more fragile than ever. What does “now is the time” mean as mainline churches around the world continue to age and we look to an uncertain future. And what does it mean to trust this good news?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Simply Sent

Image
  Gate Pa –   11 th Sunday in Ordinary Time- Year A -2023 Readings: Psalm -                      Psalm 116:9-17                         First Reading -         Genesis 18:1-15         Second Reading -      Romans 5:1-8             Gospel   -                   Matthew 9:35-10:23                      What I want to say: I want to talk about some of the themes from Phoenix Then explore the importance of Matthew 10:5-8 for Franciscans and in light of that what is living simply   What I want to happen: We are today's “sent ones”/apostles. wonder what Jesus instructions offer us in our understanding of living the gospel?   The Sermon      1.     Introduction: Some of you know I was in Phoenix at TSSF Convocation -         Why I missed two Sundays Hot – top temp each day was between 36 -40 – but very dry heat + David Rice – bishop who appointed me to be your vicar was there as Bishop Protector -         Great to spend time with him -         Took op
Read more

Youth Camp

I went on a youth camp over new years. ( This bit is new) It was overall a good camp. The young people who organised it did a really good job, and I had a good time all in all. While I will go on to question one of the speakers in particular, mostly the others were good. One used Nooma dvd's and another retold bible stories to great affect. But I want to make some comments about it that arise not only out of this event but also other events I have been on. They are observations of what we offer young people which arise out of the question, is what we offer young people at such events the best we can do? Original posting continues... I have to say the music wears me down. It is all about Jesus and me, hardly ever us. And when how to stay on the Christian journey is talked about it is in terms of my devotional life, and never about our life as a church, and even being part of a community. It is very individualistic, and is so deeply deeply flawed. And it is so not Anglican!!! Anglica
Read more

The Way

Image
Here we are in the fifth Sunday of Easter, and we no longer get rousing stories of Jesus resurrection. Instead, we are listening to part of Jesus’ final pep talk to the disciples as they and he prepare for the horrors that lies ahead. And we hear of Stephen being stoned. It somehow seems wrong. And it is also more real. The season of Easter is a time to pay attention to how the risen Christ is among us now and active in our world today. How do our readings help us in this work? There is a lot of confusion in both John and Acts. The disciples are confused by what Jesus is talking about. They are afraid and want straightforward answers. Where is Jesus going and how can they follow? What is the way? And Jesus does not give straightforward answers. And yet so often we read this as if he is. Believe certain things about Jesus and you get into heaven. “Way” can be read in many ways, not just route. Another reading is that Jesus is talking about the way of life he has lived, a way of life t
Read more