"He went Home." - February 26

Today's Readings: AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; PM Psalm 64, 65; Gen. 41:46-57; 1 Cor. 4:8-20(21); Mark 3:7-19a

“Then he went home.”

What an odd way to end a Bible passage. Jesus had just called all of his disciples, even giving one disciple, the name, “Sons of Thunder.” How is that for cool? “Then he went home.” It’s anticlimactic, at least for the time being. No jubilant cheers. No victory lap. No celebratory party or special prize. Jesus has just selected the disciples, arguably the most important assembly of teams in the history of humankind. “Then he went home.”  

Maybe I’m struck by the ordinariness of Jesus’ action or it how it gives us a window into the humanity of Jesus and his followers. They worked. And they had long days where they had to go home and hang it all up until the next day or the following week. Even Jesus couldn’t accomplish it all without rest or balance. 

Lent is a good reminder of our limitations. Fasting and self-denial are spiritual disciplines appropriate for Lent precisely to help us embrace our limitations because we need to. 

What is yours to let go of this Lent? What is yours to hang up and be finished with, even without the big congratulatory victory lap? What is yours to close the book to and be done? To return home?

Faithfully,

John+