MARK 1:37-38
This passage from the Gospel of Mark comes from its first chapter, in the early
days of Jesus’ ministry. He is still recruiting his disciples. He has just been baptized by
John, who was arrested shortly after. He has caught the attention of many by speaking
with authority and by backing up what he is saying through miraculous works. Already,
this early in his ministry, he has healed the sick and cast out demons. He has brought
comfort, peace, and healing to those he has touched. His works and his words deliver
the same message; there is relief for the pain, turmoil, and uncertainty that trouble people’s
lives. That is why, as Simon, Andrew, James, and John tell him, everyone is
searching for him.
While we live in a very different time, people’s lives are filled with similar pain,
turmoil, and uncertainty. Disease, poverty, and violence surround us. Our environment
is in grave danger. The world’s economies are failing. Race, class, gender/sexuality,
religion, and politics increasingly divide us to such a degree that nothing, not even our
shared humanity, seems able to unite us.
As Disciples of Christ, we are blessed to have a community of faith based on unity
and reconciliation. All are welcome in our congregations and at our table. We are a
community of faith that works to bring relief to the pain, turmoil, and uncertainty of
people’s lives, and we do a very good job of that!
What we’re not so good at is spreading the message! We equate “evangelism” with
a different kind of Christianity: one that is dogmatic, narrow minded, and authoritarian.
As good, liberal people, we don’t like to talk about religion outside of church. We keep
this good and blessed thing that we are—this loving, nurturing community that brings
such comfort and strength to our lives—all to ourselves.
Many of our neighbors and friends are searching for what we are. I know I was,
and I’m grateful to the Disciple who wasn’t shy about evangelizing, that I found the
Disciples of Christ when I did. That Disciple didn’t say to me “this is what we believe”
or “this is what we do”, but “this is who we are.”
One of my favorite chants from the Taize community says “Sacred is the call, awesome
indeed the intrustment: tending the holy, tending the holy.” This chant reminds
me that as a Christian I am called – entrusted even – to continue Christ’s mission of
proclaiming the message of peace and hope. We are a community of faith who tends
the holy within ourselves and each other. We have neighbors who are searching for us.
Let us do the work Christ calls us to do by inviting our neighbors to share in what we
are. Christ entrusts us to spread his message. Christ entrusts us to evangelize!
Prayer: God, make me an awesome instrument, tending the holy.
Amen.
Paul Arensmeyer is a student minister at First Christian Church of
Oakland and is under care for ordination with the CCNC-N.