This evening we are gathering to read through Mark 5-6. Fr. Gabriel is ill and will not be joining us. Please read the two chapters and be prepared to share your insights.
Mark 6 begins with the story of Jesus returning to his hometown. Mark tells us that there he could not do any mighty works because of their lack of faith. Jesus has more success with Gentiles, such as the Gerasene demonic, than those who actually know him best. Think through the implications of this teaching for the contemporary church. Also, think about how this teaching raises the question of whether or not we play a role in our own salvation?
In Mark 6 we also see another interpolation in the narrative. In Chapter 3, the confrontation with the Pharisees interrupted the story of Jesus’ family’s mission to come and take him home and in Chapter 5 the story of the hemorrhagic woman interrupts the story of the raising of Jairus’ daughter. In chapter 6, Mark interrupts the story of the sending of the disciples with the story of the execution of John the Baptist. For tonight, please think through why Mark interjects the telling of John’s death within the telling of the sending out of the disciples. What connection do these two stories have with each other and with Mark’s intended audience?
For this evening, please read pp.131-37 of Kermode and p.173 of Johnson. Dinner is at 6. The menu is Oktoberfest. Discussion about 6:45. Hope to see you here.
PARKING – Our next-door neighbor in the white brick house has offered their circle driveway for parking if you don’t want to park on the road.
But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land; and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
Luke 4:25-27