35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
This morning’s gospel is often spoken of in a number of popular ways:
- The importance of prayer in a quiet place. Contemplation is both a faith based and secular practice. Have noticed recently that Greta Bradman hosts a show on ABC Classical FM that takes people through the practice of mediation accompanied by classical music. Corporates are including it in their staff well-being programs because it is good for business. Universities are studying practices to ascertain which works and which doesn’t!
- The example of Jesus to practice this throughout his ministry is used often to encourage us to do similar, to be like Jesus and take time away from our daily routine and find a regular rhythm of prayer. Commendable and appropriate.
- The eagerness of people to capitalise on what is seen as the miraculous capacities of Jesus. In a world where the ordinary has lost its mystery people continue to seek the intervention of the miraculous to solve what appears to be unsolvable. Our nightly news holds a segment just for this purpose. It is focussed on science or medicine and promises, miracles if not now, but somewhere down the line in the future. Miracles are still promised if rarely delivered.
- The inability of the disciples to protect him from interaction with the masses or perhaps they lived off the adrenalin of miracles and the excitement of being the centre of attention. Like political spin doctors they seem to know he needs space but are always stepping in to say the people are here, and they want to see you, it’s good for your image, publicity, and ensures that people remember you. They have a valuable asset ,and they intend to milk it for all it’s worth.
- The connection between prayer and healing. This miracle fits in with the theme of Mark. For Mark, this shows that Jesus is the Anointed One as he has power of sin, nature, and the rulers of darkness. Healing was a process of solving both a physical and a spiritual problem, one directly connected to the other in the thought of the day. The healing of Peter’s mother fits neatly into this world view. The fact that when healed she is immediately able to serve Jesus and the disciples show the completeness of Jesus power the healing that occurred. There is no time needed for rehabilitation or even recuperation. The healing is so complete she goes and does what she would have done earlier, not just for one person but for all the disciples and the hangers on who were present. Amazing. Interestingly this approach to healing, trauma, grief remains embedded in our society – we are required to follow Peter’s mother and get back to work or life as normal immediately. Or at least as soon as possible.
All I suspect, are appropriate and valid ways to interpret the scripture depending upon your personal theological perspective. Not all will agree with each other as each will see this passage as best suits their world view.
In my reading of this passage there is a sentence that piques my interest:
35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
In this sentence are two words that further piques my interest:
deserted place
Deserted:
empty,
abandoned,
isolated,
uninhabited,
desolate,
derelict.
Is that where
Jesus went
Early in the morning
Escaping
Retiring
Disappearing to
Ngurangguraang[1]
A deserted camp
Where nobody
Remained
Returned
Suspected
It to be the site
Of re-existence,
Re-animation
Renewal
A space others
No longer visited
Remembered
Hoped for
Wished to be
Dreamed of
Becoming
Memories
Experiences
Time
Had
Continue
To erode any
Possibility of
Life as it was
Or anew
Aspiring for
A future that
No longer
Lingered
Cowering in the
Dark recesses
Of moments best
Forgotten.
Sitting in
The brokenness
Of lives forsaken
Remnants of buildings
Structures designed
To last
Embarrassed by
Their failure
To survive
The enemy
Natural
Human
From within
Without
A siitting-down place
Yarning
By the fire
Sharing a meal
Telling stories
Drinking tea
Together
The flames flicker
Against the
Dawning sky
The outline
Of eagles
Clumps of
Mulga
Mountains
Changing colour
In the rising sun
These ghosts
Apparitions of
a time gone by
inhabitants of
the dreaming
the every’ when
remain
whisper
Chatter
Bemoan
Lament
Each adding
To the other
Bleeding down
Into the soul
Of Country
Of those
Who dare to sit
In this space
The dark
Itself
A deserted place
Empty of
The noise
Of life
Living
Laughing
Crying
Swallowed in
The blackness
Of nothingness
Of no being
Stirring
No bird
Singing
Emptiness
A cathedral
Inviting a listening
Deep within
Massaged by
The emptiness
Without
In this
Deserted place
Abandoned by a life
One comes to caress
To reinvigorate purpose
Enliven connection
Rebirth kinship
From before
The first breath
Or
tender touch
Of a breeze
on virgin flesh
Laying on the ground
Our mother
Under our father
Receiving
Once again the
gift of knowledge
only they can give
when no thing
stirs
no thing
rises belligerently
within
no thought
no opinion
no experience
just
the deep abyss
of sitting in a
deserted place.
(Pause)
39And (then) he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
[1] Wiradjuri – deserted camp