Being St. Andrew
Mark 1:21-28
Rev. Dr. Mary Alice Mulligan
Today is the second of three Sundays we will spend in the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel. If you don’t have a Bible, feel free to take one from the pew or the back table, so you can read all of the first chapter of Mark sometime this week. In the jam-packed verses of the first chapter of Mark, we see the heavens ripped open at Jesus’ baptism (breaking the separation of heaven from Earth), then immediately he heads into the wilderness. Upon his return he immediately calls four fisherfolk to follow him. Then immediately (Mark’s favorite word, stressing the urgency of his message) we are shown Jesus’ inaugural day of ministry, a Sabbath which Jesus spends breaking religious laws. At worship in the synagogue, part of Jesus’ teaching is speaking to a man with an unclean spirit, calling the spirit out, healing him on the Sabbath. People are amazed at his power.
Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus performing 18 miracles, 13 of which are healings, and 4 of the 13 we would call exorcisms. Immediately after this first healing, his reputation spreads over the surrounding area. Here is someone teaching with authority; whose words control unclean spirits and illnesses. Mark does not waste words. From the first verse he bluntly shows us the power of God set loose in Jesus, moving us full throttle forward. Mark contrasts Jesus who is possessed by the power of the Spirit of God with the man who is possessed by demonic powers. Clearly people struggling to survive in life’s most desperate circumstances are the ones who receive Jesus’ healing attention, helping them to find hope, wholeness, and an internal well-being that transcends the hardships of daily existence. Jesus is carrying out God’s intentions for the well-being of all people. Continuing the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, listen for the Word of God.
They 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.
Did you notice? Jesus’ words heal. Through his teaching, health is happening. Something more than a physical cure goes on when Jesus calls out the demonic spirit. The teaching and the healing proclaim the message of God’s will for wholeness throughout Earth. But more than that. Jesus’ teaching and healing actually create wholeness. Word and deed together produce life. More than a medical event, the man miraculously becomes whole, which is also the result people experience from Jesus’ preaching. As Jesus describes the world as God wants it to be, listeners actually experience the wholeness God wants. They sense the divine power of God set loose in the world in the presence of Jesus Christ. A power that makes the world right – the way it’s supposed to be. On the first day of carrying out his ministry, Jesus demonstrates that God will not be limited by illness or sabbath rules or even the forces of chaos. Cleanliness laws do not restrict Jesus, for the barrier separating heaven and Earth was ripped apart at his baptism. The holy is spilling in all over the place, through the words and actions of Jesus Christ, manifesting well-being for whoever happens to be nearby. His teaching heals.
Jesus’ healing takes place in lots of different ways. Take the example of the seminary ethics class which required students to dress down and attend a free meal program alone, then describe their experience in class. One very privileged young man reported he was embarrassed and nervous to get a free lunch, in his mismatched socks and dirty sweatshirt. So he got his plate and sat off by himself, avoiding the rest of the people. But soon someone clearly from the streets came and sat down next to him, making him even more uncomfortable. Finally the streetwise man said, “You look like you are new to this. Do you have a safe place to sleep tonight?” That young student learned his preconceptions about street people needed to be fixed. Jesus knows we are all broken, yet we each have the ability to share, to grow, and to care for others through the power of Jesus Christ, which helps the world become manifest the way God wants it. Even though that young student was not on the street, his lunch companion helped him learn Christ’s compassion; the lesson helped heal and change him. Listening to the teachings of Jesus comes in various ways and the teachings of Jesus always heal.
But sometimes healing needs time. A person doesn’t always get cured in a moment. We wish all healing could come as simply as ordering out a demon. But healing isn’t always so quick. And it doesn’t always look like we want it to. Think of those first four disciples. They don’t really understand who Jesus is or what God’s purposes are. Open the Gospel of Mark anywhere and we’ll see his followers continuing to be thick-headed almost throughout their entire journey with Jesus. Their process of becoming whole takes years.
And that’s how it is for lots of us. We might receive a diagnosis requiring us to face the reality that physical healing is not going to happen, so over time we find a healing involving acceptance or finding purpose within our growing limitations. Others of us have other areas of life that need healing. We want to give up a habit but find we cannot just stop permanently overnight. We stop and start and stop again. Day one, over and over.
The lengthy timeframe for some types of healing is one reason the church is so important. The weekly sharing of Jesus’ teaching matters. Think of those among us who believe something essential is broken inside, making us unlovable, or unforgiveable. Sunday after Sunday we sing hymns, listen to scripture and sermons telling us how much God loves us. But then we go home, desperately wanting to believe that we are precious, but one glance in the mirror erases our confidence. We just can’t quite accept the wholeness Jesus offers. Sure, God may love others unconditionally, but not us. Healing when our spirits have been crushed can be a long-term project, even when empowered by the Spirit of Jesus Christ. So we need the church, because finding our way to healthfulness can take time.
So St. Andrew Church needs to continue. Our congregation is distinct, working together to spread Jesus’ message around, which means we are needed into the future. The message of Jesus’ healing is something we can all participate in together. Think of the person encouraged back to health when we simply pay a visit to the hospital or give a call when someone misses worship. Simple acts strengthening our health as a community of Jesus Christ. But beyond such acts of kindness, St. Andrew Church shares Christ’s healing into the community, like when a member of the church family acts as a sounding board for someone struggling to understand God.
But even broader than that, we also share the message as a church community that the forces of evil cannot win; that God’s Realm is breaking in, and God will have God’s way in the world. At a time when the queer community is under attack with rights being threatened, with anti-gay legislation passing, with prejudice and possible violence being expressed with impunity, St. Andrew stands firm. Not just that “We say Gay,” but every person is truly welcome here. No matter who someone is (differently abled, undocumented, tremendously wealthy, unhoused, neurodivergent, child prodigy) they are safe here, to be fully themselves. St. Andrew is a place where we are encouraged to listen and interact with people whose political positions, economic situation, and educational experiences vary greatly from one to the next.
Which means, we each need to pledge. Our financial giving abilities certainly vary, but everyone can pledge, even if it is the pledge to put 25¢ in the plate each week. Let me encourage you not merely to pledge the same amount as last year without prayer or any financial consideration. As we approach a new fiscal year, it makes sense for each of us to approach our giving anew. When we pledge, the Stewardship Team can more accurately create a budget. They need to know: Will we be able to afford a new music director? What if we need to hire a bookkeeper? If we don’t know what to expect, can we still afford a fulltime pastor?
Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely do not think we need to pledge to meet the budget. If we had a $16 million endowment, each person in the St. Andrew family would still need to think through their giving, because the church is where our lives gain focus; where we receive Christ’s healing; where we discover God’s unconditional love pouring out even on each of us. Pledging reminds us that God is important in our life. Our offerings are not given just to support St. Andrew, but we give out of our own awareness that God has healed each of us, has touched our souls with holy love, and given us the ministry of sharing Christ’s love with everyone we meet. The message of Jesus we receive through St. Andrew brings well-being to all, no matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey. And we get to participate. So, no matter what, St. Andrew needs to continue into God’s exciting future.