In the midst of a world where there is violence, suffering and pain, we witness the horrors of the inhumanity inflicted on one another. The recent reports of airstrikes on Rafah, where many have been killed, and the camp destroyed, are horrific. Such warfare and the suffering of innocent people reveals the very worst of human activity. Amidst the horrors, we also recognise there are stories of grace and compassion that take deep courage and reveal the very best of humanity.
I remember one such story, where a group of American students were studying in Israel. They were Jewish and hired a car to visit some of the historic sites they were learning about. They ventured of the track and found themselves lost in a very troubled area, where there had recently been conflict and suffering. A group of youths saw them and rushed their car, throwing rocks and bottles and chased the students as they quickly drove away. Having no idea where they were going, they just drove but quickly found themselves in a dead end and could hear the crowd coming. They jumped out of the car and ran in the opposite direction, clueless as to where to go.
A man heard the commotion from his house and went out into the street. He saw the students running scared and heard a crowd somewhere behind, yelling out and the breaking of glass echoing from behind the students. He quickly moved out and directed the students into his house and told them to quickly get in, close the door behind and move to the back of the house and keep down. Unsure whether he was friend or foe, they had little choice but to follow his directions. In the house they hid and waited.
The man stayed out front as the youths came running down the street, slowing only to ask if he’s seen the students. He pointed further down the road, giving some misdirection and waited until they were gone. Back inside the house he patched up some cuts, gave the boys something to eat and assured them he would get them out to safety when things settled down. When all was quiet, he called the authorities who came and got the students to safety. The man was a Palestinian, sick of the fighting and violence. He was courageous in showing deep compassion and a way of peace in a land of violence and suffering.
This week in Mark’s story of Jesus (Mark 2:23-3:6), the disciples are hungry whilst venturing through a field and stop to pluck some grain, presumably left behind by farmers for those who are poor, hungry, travellers… The only problem is that this is the Sabbath Day, the holy day, on which no work can be done. Over the centuries, the law of Moses in the Ten Commandments became narrowed and more restrictive. It went from, ‘Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy,’ to severe restrictions on doing any work on this day. Work was carefully and narrowly defined and very restrictive. Watching on were religious leaders, who took the opportunity to confront Jesus, asking why he allowed them to pluck grain on the Sabbath Day, which was against the law.
Jesus responded and challenged them from their own Scriptures, reminding them that David went into the Temple and took bread that only priests were allowed to eat, to feed his hungry men. He said that ‘the Sabbath Day is made for humans, not humans for the Sabbath Day!’ The Sabbath Day I intended for the renewal and rest of people, not to be a burden and so restrictive.
Jesus and his disciples continue into the Synagogue, the place of prayer and worship, and encounter a man with a shrivelled hand. Knowing he was again being watched by religious leaders, but moved by deep compassion, Jesus confronted them: ‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath, to do good or to do evil; to save life or to kill?’ This man, with his disfigured hand was, presumably, pushed to the edges of life. Probably unable to work and looked down upon with disdain by many. Jesus was angry at the silence of the religious leaders and felt their stubbornness and resistance. He told the man to stretch out his hand and it was restored. The religious leaders went out and plotted against him.
Jesus’ responses to rigid laws and legalism that denied people life and hope, was courageous compassion. He was moved by human need and suffering. He reached out in love, with grace and goodness, reflecting the love of God towards all people!
The Psalm for this week (Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18), affirms that God knows us intimately, inside and out. Every thought, every word, our attitudes and actions, good and not so good, are known to God. We are known in our deepest being – and we are loved! The writer says that there is nowhere we can go to escape the presence and love of God – in the highest heights, God is there! In the lowest depths, God is there! If we go to the farthest reaches of north, south, east or west, God is already there for us and with us! We can (and do!) choose to ignore, avoid, reject or remain oblivious to, God’s presence, but that cannot deny the reality, nor the experience of deep yearning for grace and love, life and hope.
The psalmist declares that God forms us in our mother’s womb; we are created in God and formed, nurtured, and sustained in God’s grace and love. This is where we come from, our origin and the destination of our lives, the yearning of our deepest hearts and the love that holds us through the tough and joyful moments of life.
As I read this psalm over and against the story of Jesus, I recognise that this reality of being known and loved is the source of being, the way of love and the life that Jesus reflects in his approach to people. It can be a little unnerving to realise that I might be known for who I am – thoughts, actions, warts and all. But the psalm speaks of how this knowing is gentle and profoundly loving – I am known, and I am loved. As I ponder this beautiful reality I wonder if this isn’t the way forward – to understand I am loved by the source of all love and this love will not let me go. In being loved I can love – surely?
Isn’t this what Jesus was doing in allowing his disciples to eat, in, healing this man who was struggling, to provide freedom and life. The religious leaders, though technically right in their reading of the laws that existed, lacked love and grace. They were more concerned with being right, not being loving, fulfilling a rigid law, than being compassionate. Jesus’ courageous compassion challenged their inflexible legalism, as he challenged rigid belief systems, structures, judgementalism and all the barriers that people erect to keep others away. Jesus’ way, God’s way, is of inclusive love that brings people together and frees us to express our truest self before the world and contribute our part to the well-being of the whole. Surely this is the way for our world in times of violence, hatred, warfare, conflict, judgement, exclusion and much suffering. We are known deeply and loved profoundly, surely this is enough! Enough!