July 19, 2015
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Excursus. Praise God that after three weeks of worshiping at a rest house, we are now back here and worshiping in our new (albeit still under construction) chapel. It might be coincidence—or the providence of God—that the Old Testament reading today (II Samuel 7:1-17) is about the desire of King David to build a Temple for the LORD (v. 2). The LORD told David through Nathan the Prophet that it will not be he who would built His Temple but his son who would come after him (vv. 12-13); i.e., King Solomon. But because of his desire to build Him a house, the LORD promised David that his dynasty will rule Israel forever (vv. 15-16); and from this “house” will come the Messiah, Jesus the Lord.
It is also the providence of God that our Epistle reading for today (Ephesians 2:11-22) says something of building upon “the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (v. 20, New King James Version) and the building of “the whole building, being fitted together” growing “into a holy temple in the Lord” (v. 21, NKJV). Let the ongoing construction of our chapel be a reminder that we are only building upon the foundation laid by the apostles, with Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone.
Introduction
Jesus is the model of compassion (which I would like to render in Tagalog as 'pagmamalasakit'). When He saw the "great multitude", He "was moved with tender compassion* for them; because they were as sheep having no shepherd" (Mark 6:34, John Wesley New Testament). Just as Jesus had compassion upon the people, we are also to show compassion toward our neighbor.
Exposition. In our Gospel reading two Sundays ago (Mark 6:1-13), Jesus sent the Twelve to preach the Kingdom of God, to heal the sick, and to cast out demons. In verse 30 of today's Gospel reading, the Apostles (Greek αποστολος apostolos, 'one who is sent') had returned from their mission and told Him everything they had done. Their mission was very demanding (physically and spiritually), so He told them, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while" (v. 31). St. Matthew adds that Jesus had also heard of the beheading of His servant and cousin, St. John the Baptist (14:13); no doubt that He wanted to be alone and mourn. "And they departed into a desert place by boat privately" (Mark 6:32).
But when the people saw Him, they ran to the place where He and His disciples went. By the time Jesus arrived at the place, there was already a large crowd of people (Mark 6:33-34). When He saw the people, he "was moved with tender compassion for them; because they were as sheep having noss shepherd" (v. 34, John Wesley New Testament).
What is 'compassion'? Many Tagalog versions, including the Ang Biblia 1901, the Magandang Balita Biblia 1985, & c. use the word nahabag ('felt pity'). But I prefer to use the word nagmalasakit ('had compassion on them'), as in "Nagmalasakit siya sa kanila sapagkat para silang tupang walang pastol" (v. 34, Magandang Balita Biblia 2005, altered).
Compassion is different from pity. Pity is saying, "It is cold. Too bad you have nothing to wear and to eat. I'll just pray for you. 'Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled (cf. James 2:15-16). Compassion means feeling other people's pain.
In today's Gospel, there are four ways that Jesus showed compassion.
I. Jesus taught the people. (Mark 6:34)
When Jesus saw the people, He "was moved with compassion because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things" (v. 34, New King James Version).
We have been reading and listening to the Word of God for years. One way of showing compassion to others is teaching people the Word of God. We need to teach people that they need the Lord. We need to tell people to teach people to pray in the time of need (see Hebrews 4:16). We should teach them to love their enemies, to bless those who curse them, to do good to those who hate them, and to pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44).
The next two points were skipped over today's Gospel pericope: the Feeding of the Five Thousand (Mark 6:35-44) and the Walking on Water (6:45-52). This will be the Gospel reading for next Sunday (from John 6:1-21).
II. Jesus fed the hungry (Mark 6:35-44)
After teaching the people "many things", Jesus fed the hungry. This shows us that Jesus cares not only for our souls but also for our bodies also. When the day was "far spent", the disciples asked Jesus to send the people away so that they can buy food (vv. 35-36). But Jesus fed the people (five thousand men, not counting women and children) using five loaves and two pieces of fish.
Jesus showed compassion by feeding the hungry. This means that He cares about our bodily needs. We should not only be concerned with the salvation of their souls but also with their bodily needs.
III. Jesus rescued the disciples from calamity (Mark 6:45-52).
After Jesus fed the multitude, He made His disciples get into a boat and go before Him on the other side while He stayed behind to dismissed the people and to pray by Himself on a mountain (vv. 45-46). When they were in the middle of a lake, a sudden squall came upon them; and Jesus came to them walking upon the water (vv. 47-48).
Another way of showing compassion is by helping people who were hit by calamity. The United Methodist Church has an agency called UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. It brings aid to people hit by calamity here in the Philippines and all over the world. Our bishop in the Manila Episcopal Area, Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan, has a program called Disaster Response and Relief Team (DRRT) whose aim is to help people struck by typhoons or any calamity. Part of your offerings are given as apportionments; part of which is used to help people struck by disaster in many places around the world.
IV. Jesus healed the sick (Mark 6:53-56).
When Jesus and the disciples arrived at the land of Gennesaret, He healed the sick that were brought to Him from all over region or in whatever place He went (vv. 53-56). Jesus showed compassion by healing the sick.
All of us have ministries to the sick. Doctors, nurses, and other health professionals treat illnesses using medicines, surgery, medical equipment, & c. We pastors heal the sick by anointing them with oil and praying for them (cf. Mark 6:13; James 5:13-17). You lay people may not have the ability to prescribe medicine or to anoint with oil, but you also have the ministry to pray for one another. You can also visit those who are sick, care for them, help those who watch over them, bring them food, & c.
Conclusion
John Wesley wrote Nature, Design, and General Rules of these United Societies in 1743, which would eventually become the General Rules of The United Methodist Church. According to him, the only requirement for those who want to join the Methodist societies is "a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins". These rules are divided into three: 1) to do no harm; 2) to do good; and 3) to attend upon the ordinances of God. Under the second section, to do good, John Wesley instructed:
Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men:Wesley concluded the General Rules thus:
To their bodies, of the ability which God giveth, by giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by visiting or helping them that are sick or in prison.
To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhorting all we have any intercourse with; trampling under foot that enthusiastic doctrine that "we are not to do good unless our hearts be free to it".
These are the General Rules of our societies; all of which we are taught of God to observe, even in his written Word, which is the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of our faith and practice. And all these we know his Spirit writes on truly awakened hearts. If there be any among us who observe them not, who habitually break any of them, let it be known unto them who watch over that soul as they who must give an account. We will admonish him of the error of his ways. We will bear with him for a season. But then, if he repent not, he hath no more place among us. We have delivered our own souls. (The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2012, par. 104, pp. 77-78)____________________
* The Latin Vulgate does not use the word compatio in this verse; but rather: "Et exiens vidit turbam multam Jesus: et misertus est super eos, quia erant sicut oves non habentes pastorem, et cœpit docere multa". The only verse in the Latin Vulgate that uses compatio is Hebrews 4:15 - "Non enim habemus pontificem qui non possit compati infirmitatibus nostris: tentatum autem per omnia pro similitudine absque peccato".
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