ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 23, 2025
Early in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is baptized by John, and then Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness. Only 14 verses in the Gospel, John is arrested, and Jesus begins his public ministry. I think most people breeze right through those 13 verses on their way to another destination, missing the confusion and tension that must have been felt by those who were disciples of John, uncertain about this Jesus who upon his baptism disappeared for nearly six weeks. In reading the Gospels, we often are viewing the story with a basic knowledge of where it is going, and for that reason, we do not ponder what is happening just below the storyline that lacks details. It makes me wonder how often I assume to know where something is going, looking just past the present, and for that reason, I miss the real emotions of the moment. Of course, Jesus was going to make a dramatic return from the wilderness and do amazing things, but those forty days that included John’s arrest must have been frightening for many. Faith in Jesus is not simply looking to the end of the story or even the next high point. It is about living fully present in the moment where people are anxious and finding it nearly impossible to think God will show up tomorrow or a week from Thursday or ever. We cannot be dismissive or arrogant. Instead, we must meet people where they are in the hopes that there will be people who will meet us in our challenging moments.
I desire to know your story, God of hope and promises, always remembering how your story is about both the destination and the journey for each of your beloved. Amen.
