Then He Went Home - Monday, March 2
Today’s Readings - Psalm 56, 57, [58]; Gen. 41:46-57; 1 Cor. 4:8-20(21); Mark 3:7-19a
As part of my Lenten discipline and honestly as a treat to myself, I’m joining Betty Shivers’ book group on Thursday mornings to discuss Boundless Compassion written by Joyce Rupp. Rupp approaches the subject of compassion from the standpoint of one who realizes the most compassionate, empathetic and caring individuals are almost always the ones who report not knowing how to show themselves compassion. Yep, folks, it’s that old adage, “doctors make the worst patients.” They can care for others but never care for themselves. Those who are in caring professions such as social workers, nurses, caregivers, and clergy are often neglectful of their own needs. When asked why this is many people will tell you it feels selfish. That it’s not supposed to be about them but about others. Rupp points out that when Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself maybe he should have added, “and love yourself as you love your neighbor.”
One of the ways Jesus took care of himself was his practice of getting away from others and finding a quiet space and time to pray. It was how he renewed his spirit. Jesus’ practice of healing people gained him the reputation that created a mob scene everywhere he went. It became so bad that at times he’d plead with those he healed to tell no one what he had done. But seriously, if you’ve just been cured of leprosy or had your sight restored how on earth would you be able to stay quiet? You’d want to shout it from the roof tops, which most people ended up doing.
In today’s gospel we’re told many have heard of the miracles Jesus has performed and so “the crowd came to him in great numbers.” Jesus prepares for a crowd so he arranges for a boat to be ready so that the crowds will not crush him. He then calls his apostles whom he sends out to help him do the work he has come to do. I might add a great example of delegating work, then the final verse, which I think is the most profound of today’s gospel: “He went home. . .”
When asked what I do to be compassionate to myself, to take care of myself, much of what I think of involves going home. This wouldn’t need to be a specific place. If our home was destroyed it would be a place where I am loved, where I know I’m accepted just as I am and where I’m seen and heard. In other words, where my dogs are. There aren’t a lot of places in the world where we find these attributes. It’s typically those we surround ourselves with that provide this. Jesus knew to go home. When he prayed, in essence he was going home to his father in heaven, to God. No matter what we have been dealt with in life, even if home is not our safe place, we can always go to God. God sees us and hears us. God accepts us just as we are, and God loves us without limits. For lent, why not try something different? Try loving yourself as God loves you.
faithfully,
Sally+
Questions for Challenge and Reflection – What would your life look like if you could see yourself the way God sees you? As the delightful and precious child that you are. What if each day you took just a few minutes to be still and rest with this feeling? Allow yourself to be held in the arms of God.