The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Feb. 5, 2006

BCP: 2 Kings 4:(8-17)18-21(22-31)32-37; Psalm 142; 1 Cor. 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39

RCL: Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-12, 21c; 1 Cor. 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39

The whole city was at the door (Mark 1:33). This will not be the last time Mark tells us of the sheer volume of people engulfing Jesus. A couple chapters later so many people were coming to Jesus that he and the disciples could not even eat (Mark 3:19). We can relate to this scenario. Are we the mother who cannot wash one more laundry load while the children are screaming? Are we the executive who cannot bear one more evening meeting that takes us away from the family? Are we the clerk in the store trying our best to be patient with yet another irritable customer? Are we the priest who night after night answers the phone calls from the hospital? The whole city is at our door.

Jesus goes about his ministry with a certain amount of pressing vitality. Paul’s words could very well have been his, “an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16). We also go about our ministry of job or family with a certain amount of urgency.

Sometimes we yell “Stop!” We realize that we cannot save the world. Even the Savior of the world sometimes yelled “Stop!” Today’s story of Jesus speedily going about his ministry has a centerpiece. The centerpiece is the “deserted place” (Mark 1:35). It is the place of focus to which our urgency calls us. Without a place alone with God we could easily get off track. Jesus knew this. It is the place of refreshment that Isaiah describes, “... those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). After pausing as Jesus did, we too can then move on with similar passion. Prayer is the hub on which we pivot our active lives.

Look It Up

Check out other places in the gospels where Jesus goes off by himself to pray. Look up “deserted places” in a concordance.

Think About It

Have we been in our deserted places lately? Where are our deserted places?

Next Sunday

The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Feb. 12, 2006

BCP: 2 Kings 5:1-15b; Psalm 42 or 42:1-7; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Mark 1:40-45

RCL: 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Mark 1:40-45