The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:

First Reading: I Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15), 16-20 (11:14-15)
Psalm 138
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Gospel Reading: Mark 3:20-35

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

The Gospel lesson has the family of Jesus concerned at what they see and hear about him.  Meanwhile, the crowds of people are continually present and seeking after Jesus.  This is the Gospel of Mark, and in the Gospel of Mark the insiders never get it.  In this case the insiders are not only the disciples but the members of the family.  They miss the mark.  They don’t understand this Jesus.  He makes no clear sense to them.

What does Jesus have?  Who gets him?  The insiders, the family, the disciples?  No.  Jesus has the crowd.  Wouldn’t that be a sign of success?  When throngs of people are chasing you down—hey, that is success, right?  Well, yes, but only if it’s the right kind of crowd.

This crowd that was chasing after Jesus was the wrong crowd.  This crowd did not comprise the rich or the famous.  That crowd with Jesus was those who longed for justice.  This crowd was from the wrong side of the tracks.  This crowd was from the side of town people move away from. It was why he was clearly, in the family view, out of it.  He had lost it.

But, here’s the reality of this crowd:

• They sought Jesus out.
• They knew Jesus could help them in ways that no one or nothing else could. It is, in Mark’s Gospel, the crowd that recognizes who Jesus is what he can do for them.
• They were open to the “new day” God was bringing and passionately believed Jesus was taking them there.

May we both be in the crowd and inviting others along the way.

—

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk