Thoughts for the Day

When Jesus and the disciples had crossed over the lakel, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In my large old rectory in Suffolk as well as acres of ground going down to the estuary beloved by tribes of rabbits, there was a bell-panel in the kitchen with the mechanism still working, so that a servant could be summoned to the living room, the study or the dining room, and asked to make a cup of tea, or see someone to the door, or walk the dog. For that matter there was also an outside toilet for the gardener to use! These days, thank goodness, have gone!

In our reading from Mark's Gospel he describes how Jesus and the disciples get in a boat to cut across the north-west corner of the Sea of Galilee to Gennesaret (this is not the land of the Gerasenes which is on the North-west coast), some three or four miles south of Capernaum. One of the alternative names for the huge lake is the Lake Gennesaret. However, Jesus is recognised and followed by hordes of sick and desperate people all wanting to be healed.

Sometimes we too are like these people - we demand Jesus' attention - we need something from Him. Like the old rector in his rectory who rang the bell and waited for attention! I wonder if today, we make use of Jesus in this way, only turning to Him when we need help? Surely He must long for us to to turn to Him to offer our love, our service, and our devotion.

Lord Jesus Christ,
we offer You our devotion and love this day,
and our grateful thanks for all your care for us.
May we not take for granted Your involvement
in our life,
so that we only turn to You when in need.
Instead may we offer instead our life-long service
as God's sons and daughters.
Amen.