Mark 6:30 Those who had been sent out rejoined Yeshua and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 There were so many people coming and going that they couldn’t even take time to eat, so he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a place where we can be alone, and you can get some rest.” 32 They went off by themselves to an isolated spot; 33 but many people, seeing them leave and recognizing them, ran ahead on foot from all the towns and got there first. 34 When Yeshua came ashore, he saw a huge crowd. Filled with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, he began teaching them many things.
53 After they had made the crossing, they landed at Ginosar and anchored. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized him 55 and began running around throughout that whole region and bringing sick people on their stretchers to any place where they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went, in towns, cities or country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the tzitzit on his robe, and all who touched it were healed.[Complete Jewish Bible]
A formative book for me during my time as a student at Luther Seminary was "Notebook of a Colonial Clergyman" by Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. I read in wonder and amazement the passages about people coming out from their homes hungry for the Word, hungry for the building up of their faith. Since those feelings are within my own breast, I didn't hear those passages with prideful patronage toward a simpler people; I just envied the assembly of a throng of believers who sought to be fed.I think that the secret to welcoming others is simpler than many of us would wish to believe. An infant is a magnet for adults no matter their race or culture or age. They are instantly identifiable as something good and something filled with infinite promise. The infant's secret? Unfiltered welcome.
As Christ moved through the ancient world it was known, by reputation and by experience that no one was turned away from his presence. His human flesh carried with it the will of God that all be welcomed home, that all be gathered into God's love. He was living welcome.
Whether we wear a collar or not, whether or not people on the street can identify us as a Christian, maybe we could just remember to offer a place away for rest, some respite from the traumas of the day, and let that be our welcome, a balm in the heat of day.
Christ, recognized as God around the earth, make of us emissaries of your peace. Let us bring rest and respite into a world all too hurried, too image conscious, too persistently measuring, judging, condemning. May we always say "yes" to those in need of any healing and become the living welcome you have been to us all our lives. Amen.
R. Tim Carnahan
Santa Rosa, Cali.
Master of Divinity , 2005
Mark 6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.
31 He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat.
54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him,
55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.[New Revised Standard Version]
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