A fun fact about the Gospel of Mark: the element of surprise/awe/wonder appears 34 times in the gospel. Remember that Mark only has 16 chapters. This surprise/awe/wonder is a huge part of the way that Mark tells the story of Christ. He wants the readers to know that there is something awesome and wonderful and inspiring and surprising happening.
In Mark’s Gospel, this is Jesus’ first act of “public ministry.” He’s been baptized by John at the Jordan, tempted in the wilderness, and called the first disciples, but this is the first time Mark tells a story of Jesus publicly teaching, and probably more importantly, healing. It is a amazing and wonderful and awe-inspiring. And it is just the beginning. Mark tells story after story, in quick succession, of Jesus healing, feeding, and teaching. The way Mark writes it’s like he can’t get it out fast enough--and then, and then--like an excited child telling about a particularly exciting day. Mark himself is filled with awe and wonder because of the things that Jesus has done and wants to share the story with as many people as possible. And here we are, reading it, hearing it, pondering it, nearly two thousand years later.
So maybe the question becomes: “How does Christ surprise you? Inspire you? Fill you with awe and wonder?” How do you see God working in and through and around you? In what ways do you feel the power of the Holy Spirit at work in your life?
I believe that if we are the body of Christ, then we also become God’s hands and feet in the world. God works through us: silly, crazy, loving, confused, questioning, hopeful human beings that we are. We see God through other people, through the wonder of creation all around us, through laughter and tears and questions. It’s not always easy to see, but I do believe that God is working all around us, mostly through other people--family, friends, and strangers. And God continues to inspire us and fill us with awe.
I was back in Wauankee last week. I got to hang out with our 9th graders during their confirmation retreat (which was supposed to be up north and include skiing, but ended up being a lock-in at church due to the snow storm). I saw lots of people on Saturday evening and Sunday morning at worship. I visited and laughed and drank lots of coffee. I saw pastor colleagues at a conference on Tuesday. I prayed with and for families grieving the loss of loved ones. I led Route 78 on Wednesday evening and saw God working through squirrelly 7th and 8th graders who supported each other in prayer and told Biblical stories through charades and reported their God moments. They inspire me. I see God working through them. And through all of these amazing people who are a part of my life by the grace of God and the call of the church. Christ continues to come to us--using us as his body to do great things in the world, in sometimes seemingly small ways.
What would happen if we tried really hard to watch for those moments when we really feel God working through us and through those around us? What difference might it make in our lives? I think we would feel awe and wonder more and more. I think we would begin to recognize that the Spirit is flowing all around us and giving us what we need to do the important work of ministry in the world. Because we all do ministry. Each and every single one of us. We’re all equipped in baptism to be proclaimers of the good news of Jesus Christ. And it is really, really good news. Good news that gives hope to those who feel hopeless, and showers grace upon those who feel they couldn’t possibly deserve it, and wraps each and every single one of us in love.
Question for you for today: how have you been inspired/filled with awe and wonder by the way God is working in your life? Please leave a comment here and I’ll also link the question to Facebook (Peace Lutheran Church) and Twitter (@peaceinwaunakee). Let’s share these moments because I know that we have stories that help others see the grace, hope, and love of the Triune God who creates, redeems, and sustains us.
Blessings to you this week as you watch for the wonder of Christ in your life. Amen.
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