Thoughts for the Day

Healing the Sick in Gennesaret

When they had crossed over, 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

Our Lectionary omits some of Chapter 6 at this point and the narrative accelerates so we get a sense of Jesus being harried by the multitudes and taking to a boat. He and his disciples sail across from the north of the Sea of Galilee across the north-west corner to Gennesaret (not the land of the Gerasenes on the north-east coast), a few miles south of Capernaum. One of the alternative names for this huge lake is 'Lake Gennesaret'. However, Jesus is recognised and followed by hordes of sick and desperate people all wanting to be healed.

I notice as I get older how the elderly and disabled in our society can be treated. Sometimes with great kindness from total strangers when a queue is held up as they struggle to manage shopping, money, keys, and gloves and then drop something on the floor! But equally there can be a lot of insincerity from officials - a sort of "Yes, dear" attitude - from people who feel they know better than the elderly or disabled person, and wish to speed up things and make a decision for them. Being patient is a real art, and its one that many in our busy society have forgotten.

In today's incident which is only in Mark's Gospel the people scurry everywhere to bring their sick to Jesus. The people can recognise goodness and sincerity when they see it. They know Jesus has compassion for them and can heal them. They know he has time and patience for them. Perhaps we can reflect today on our prayer requests to God and ask ourselves, not only "Do I have enough faith to ask for help?" But also "What can I learn from Jesus' attitude to the sick and disabled and how can I apply it to my life?"

Lord Jesus Christ,
You showed patience and compassion
with all those who came to You in distress,
and healed all who showed faith in You.
Teach us to be more patient with one another
and to show compassion to all in need,
for of such virtues is Your Kingdom made.
Amen.