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Wednesday after Epiphany
St. Luke’s Institute
January 7, 2015
AMIDST A STORMY SEA +++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Mark
paints the scene vividly
Ø
It’s
a stormy wind tossed night on Sea of Galilee
Ø
Just
hours before, the disciples witnessed extraordinary multiplication of loaves
and fishes and were dismissed, while Jesus stayed behind
Ø
On
the sea the waves begin to swell; the boat is awash from whitecaps as the boat
takes on water
Ø
In
the exhaustion is settling on them after night of toiling against elements. They
squint 2C J waking across the waves & believe they’re hallucinating
Ø
Mark
ends the account with a reference to their lack of understanding
PLAUSIBLE
INCOMPREHENSION? ++++++++++++++++
Ø
Given
the circumstances, doesn’t a bit of incomprehension seem plausible?
Ø
The
last line of the account is revelatory: “On
the contrary, their hearts were hardened”
Ø
We
generally associate hardheartedness with coldness or indifference, but again, doesn’t
a bit of incomprehension seem plausible?
Ø
If
so, it’s a curious way to describe the disciples understandable terror and
confusion
EXPLANATION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
In
today’s parlance we might describe the disciples’ hearts as “hardwired,” and thus they were unable to
see things in a different way
Ø
The
way we think about something is like a wire or pathway that’s been set in our
brain
Ø
To
change how we think about that
reality requires a new pathway or wire
Ø
It
takes an openness to change the wiring
Ø
It
takes time & involves the process of forming a new habit
Ø
Being
open 2 new wiring, i.e., new ways of seeing, hearing, & embracing what
cannot B grasped solely through intellect, is called “conversion”
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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What
such openness to new wiring affords us is:
Ø
Recognition
of a deeper
presence embedded in our daily experiences
Ø
The
ability
to celebrate the simple wonders of creation and abundance
Ø
And
Safety
from the storms in our lives
Ø
The
Gospel assures us it’s well worth the risks!
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