Sermons by Rev. Jason S. Glombicki (Page 20)

With today’s gospel reading, we come to the end of our year-long exploration with the gospel of Mark. However, it’s not the ending of the book of Mark. Instead, we conclude our study with Jesus’ reminder. In verse 6 we heard Jesus say, “Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.” We heard Jesus talk about  wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, and all the things that bring people to fear and seek a supreme leader. In the rest of Chapter 13, we’ll be reminded to watch, wait, and be alert for the real coming of Jesus…

You may have noticed that today we had all four readings, including the Psalm, for the first time in a year and a half or so. Due to screen fatigue and COVID concerns, we’ve been only reading the gospel and one other reading. Naturally, this allowed us to explore a text or two with more depth. Today, we can look at the breadth of the readings and a theme that connects them…

One thing Jesus is most known for in his ministry is healing. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus healed demon possessed individuals, a girl who was dead, and a hemorrhaging woman. Today, we met a man who was blind. Before we get too far into the reading, there is an important word of caution. With all the talk about Jesus healing the deaf, the blind, and the lame, it’s easy for us to assume that Jesus prefers people who do not live with a disability. Religious people have used such assumptions to terrorize those with disabilities and heaped blame, shame, and disdain on their families…