June 1st, was a sunny day as Boyd and I traveled down Rt. 81 from New York State towards Scranton, PA. The past weekend had been cold and rainy. We had basic cabin camped for 4 days and I had learned within a couple of the first hours that basic cabin camping was not for me. Thank goodness we were welcomed into the homes of family during the days but were confined in a tiny cabin evenings and early mornings. It never got out of the 40’s and the rain never stopped. It was a relief to pack up and head home. As we left the campground, the sun came out and the skies began to clear. Puffs of white clouds decorated the baby blue skies. My mind was a blur after the events of the past two weeks. First my brother-in-law Walter had died from a heart attack on Saturday the 15th and we had spent a week with my sister Judy until after the memorial service on Friday. Less than a week later, we traveled to NY for the celebration of the life of my brother Paul in a graveside service. (Yes, it was in the 40’s and raining at the gravesite as my Rev. Brother Bill and I officiated for our sibling.) It had been 4 months since Paul had died from Covid. The scene was all too familiar to me because some of us here have celebrated similar services together right here at home. The events of the past year and a half have left scars on all our hearts and minds. We are “burned out” but not down and out because we have the help of the Holy Spirit and faith in God that leads us forward to hope which reminds us that we are all in this together. We are all headed in the same direction! We are on a spiritual journey headed to a place called home and eternal life… Yes, we are all going to what some of us will call our forever home.
We find Jesus today in a similar situation in our reading today. His life had been a whirlwind of activity and perhaps he is also suffering from burnout. After all, just look at what Mark records in in his gospel up to this point… In chapters 1 - 3 alone Jesus has casted out an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23–28). Which demonstrated his power over the forces of evil. The people of Capernaum were amazed and asked, “What new doctrine is this?”
Jesus had healed Peter’s mother-in- law (Mark 1:29–34). Thus demonstrating His power over sickness which resulted in people coming in droves bringing their sick and demon-possessed friends and family to Him to be healed.
There’s more, Jesus healed a paralyzed man (Mark 2:1–12). displaying His power over sickness and His authority to forgive. Trouble was beginning to brew because the Pharisees were beginning to question Jesus’ authority to perform miracles. To make matters worse, the people were beginning to glorify God because of the miracles He performed.
Jesus had one more miracle to perform at this point and that was to heal a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1–6). This was the last straw for the Pharisees because it not only showed Jesus’ power over sickness but His authority to do good on the Sabbath. The Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath and began to plot against Him. After all of this, Jesus simply went home… Showing all of us that there comes a time when we need to simply go home for rest and to regroup if possible. Going home to be with family and friends…
As I read today’s gospel, one word jumped out at me… HOME … Jesus went home. After the whirlwind of activity I just told you about, Jesus went home. His reputation of preaching and healing made it impossible for him to be left alone. Perhaps he was hoping for a time to rest and renewal with family and friends, but like many of us, that did not happen. The crowd pressed in on him and He was surrounded by people who needed his help. That was good news but there were others in the crowd who doubted him and his authority to perform miracles It was a difficult time… Even some members of his family began to doubt him and others accused him of being in league with the devil himself.
Even with all of this, Jesus never gave up on teaching and 21 centuries we are still hearing the story and remembering how Jesus did not give up when he faced difficult situations. Being accused of being insane by your family and being in league with the devil is about as bad as it can get but Jesus turned that situation into a learning experience. Jesus never lost sight that he was sent to do the will of God. The phrase, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” has been accredited to many different people, but Jesus demonstrates it for us in today’s lesson. He doesn’t give up but goes straight back to work.
Yes, we have faced and are still facing difficult times. Life goes on and Jesus goes before us and invites us to join him on the journey Home. Through good times and bad we are to keep our eye on the goal which is eternal life with him in the place he has gone to prepare for us. This is not “pie in the sky” religion, it is the real deal. You are not insane if you believe it is true and people may not understand what it means to be a part of the family of God… But we do!
An unexpectd kind of miracle happened as Boyd and I crossed the New York State border into Pennsylvania. I realized that I didn’t know when I will return for a visit. The farm has changed… the barn and house have been burned by an arsonist and the pastures where the cows grazed and fields that grew corn and wheat are being reclaimed by forest. There are only 2 from the family of 6 left who worked, played and grew up on the farm and friends are growing older and have either moved away or have already moved into eternal life. I do not know when I will return in person but I will return as I tell Little Carol Stories and the life lessons I learned there. Plymouth, NY is different now but I am better having my early years there…
Capernaum is much different today than it was when Jesus returned home there 2100 years ago. I saw with my own eyes the shell of the synagogue that is still standing. I sat on the stone benches and imagined Jesus setting to teach. My heart stirred as I gazed at the foundation of Peter’s house and imagined the miracle of healing that happened there. Fishermen like Peter and Andrew still fish and the waves from the Sea of Galilee still lap upon the shore and we are still telling the stories of Jesus.
Life is a miracle and memory is a miracle. We have faith stories of our lives to share, we have memories of miracles to share. Mine are called “Little Carol” stories, your stories have a name too but the important thing is that you share your story.
Miracles happen on good days and they happen on bad days! God is at work through it all everyday!
God Bless you on your journey!
The grass withers and the flower fades but the Word of God stands forever!
