Year B
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Collect 215
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
A sermon preached by The Reverend Carolynne G. Williams
During the early to middle 1960’s there was in my high school class a girl, we were girls at that time, by the name of Mary. Mary stood at about 5’9 ½ inches and had a slim build. She was not considered to be the prettiest girl in the class, but the fellows seemed to think that she was fair to midland in terms of her looks. She seemed to be a normal teenager with interests that paralleled those of her classmates at that time. She liked having fun and was not a loner. She would attend the after school dances that were sponsored by the school. And we all enjoyed, as they are called now, the simpler times.
When the orchestra traveled, she was not a part of the group, but, Mary sang in the glee club and was always on the Deans List. She was always on the Honor Roll.
While Mary was not the most popular girl in the class, everyone knew her. Everyone knew her in a class of 256 at Monroe Senior High School because there was something that would happen to Mary that we, her classmates, knew about. We knew about this occurrence, this thing that would change Mary.
Something would take over and it took possession of her body with authority. When this occurrence began to happen, most of us, her classmates knew to move things from around her; desks, any sharp objects, her books from the top of her desk etc. After objects were moved out of her path we would wait. That was all that could be done at that time. So we waited. More importantly someone, whoever was physically closest to her, would put a folded piece of paper in her mouth so that she would not bite her tongue in two. And by this time the seizure would begin, with authority. Mary had epileptic seizures. The seizure would begin with the same physical signs. Most of the time, the seizures lasted for two to three minutes. At the time, it seemed much longer.
The underclassman knew about Mary and her seizures as well. They knew because the seizures would begin without warning. There was not always enough time to take her to the school nurse, or to the clinic. Was there medication that could have prevented these seizures from occurring? If so, Mary did not have it or if she did, the medication was not effective.
A few of her classmates would form a protective shield around Mary until the seizure was over. The shield was formed so that she would not harm herself as she thrashed about on the floor. Mary would “convulse and cry out with a loud voice” as the demon did in the book of Mark. Was she filled with demons? I doubt it.
You see, when the seizure would end, Mary would have no memory of this medical malady happening to her. It always amazed us as to how this would happen. We waited until the seizure was over. Mary taught us how to care for her. She was the authority. Even though we had seen this happen several times before…..it always amazed us, every single time.
We didn’t laugh. We didn’t think it was funny, but we knew that it was serious and whatever happened, happened with authority. It, the seizure, was in charge.
I remember Mary as being smart, kind, a part of the community. She knew that we were often embarrassed for her, but somehow along with the authority that this seizure seemed to have, and somehow as we waited for it to end, we classmates would no longer be embarrassed, we would become filled with compassion. Even those who seemed incapable of having such an attribute would discover within themselves a place for understanding. They would find themselves wanting to know more.
Mary is still living today in South Georgia. I pray that either the seizures have stopped or medical science has enabled her to control the seizures.
Our Gospel setting is in Capernaum. The Year A.D. 28-29. A time so long ago that it is difficult to imagine. But there Jesus was in the flesh. He had been going about spreading the “Good news.” People knew about Jesus in Galilee, they knew about him in Nazareth and they were going to the Synagogue in Capernaum. Many of the people did not know Jesus personally, but they had heard about him because of what he did.
What did he do? He went about healing those who were sick. On the Sabbath, he called for an unclean spirit to come out of a man. He cures the possessed man by word alone and without ritual or magical display. He called for actions that the scribes had not called for. The scribes were those who were in positions of authority. Scribes then are similar to our lawyers of today. But Jesus spoke with and taught with authority. When he did this, those in the community asked the question, how can we be sure that what you say is from God? Jesus responded by demonstrating that he was filled with the presence of God within him. He did not claim his own authority. He showed the compassion that only God gives through love and mercy.
In my imagination, Jesus was an ordinary looking man in his time. He probably was of average height and had a medium size frame. He was not handsome. His hair was long, touching his shoulders and was dark. He was Jewish, thusly, his skin tone and the texture of his hair was suspect. His eyes were dark as well.
There were those who hated him especially after he ordered this unclean spirit out of the man who questioned him. The man filled with demons by some accounts who said, “I know who you are, The Holy one of God.”
I imagine the tone of his voice to be ordinary, but the words that he spoke made the difference. The words that he spoke and the deeds that he carried out were done with authority. Not his own authority, but through the authority of one greater than he.
In words ascribed to the Apostle Peter, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power…. He went about doing good for others and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38).
God is with us all of the time. I did not know it at the time, but God was with Mary. I am sure that there were those in her neighborhood or even in our class who thought that something was controlling Mary that was not good. They had to think this. We lived in the Deep South, the Bible belt. I never heard anyone say it, but I am sure that it was a thought on somebody’s mind.
What amazes us in life today? Is everything so routine and expected that we have become insensitive to new teachings? Are there new teachings occurring? Is God in the midst of it all? Do we have so many distractions now that the imprint of true authority in the midst of us is not clear? Are we so bombarded with the musings of the world that our senses of balance and inner peace are dulled to the point that we no longer respond? Or when we do respond is it to a voice of authority that is confusing?
The status of Jesus as “Holy One of God” leaves us with a place to stand. I submit to you that the presence of God today allows for forgiveness of our sins. Forgiveness is essential for the promotion of God’s place in our lives.
As we forgive those who have sinned against us as we have been forgiven, amazing transformations begin to happen. These changes take place without a lot of fanfare. Forgiveness of ourselves as well as forgiveness of those who have sinned against us will bring about a new teaching; a new teaching that comes to us through our senses. We will be able to see, and hear, and touch this new way of being. We will be able to touch and taste this new way of being. How can this happen? It happens when we allow the authority of God to have his way in our lives.
Circumstances that use to trouble us no longer cross our minds. Obstacles that at one time seemed monumental dissipate. Those persons who we hated to see coming our way, we somehow greet with joy and anticipation. We become transformed in the ordinariness of life and living. We anticipate the new teaching, the new way of being with amazement.
If this were not already happening week after week of coming to this house of God, we would not be here.
We can see the presence of God in others; we can smell the fragrance of God’s Holiness in the air. More importantly God is with us in the midst of space that we occupy, where ever that may be.
We don’t have to summon God. God is present always and we should be amazed.
He was present with Mary in the midst of her illness that plagued her and God is present with us now. The authority that is solid filled with mystery and awe is steadfast.
This authority has the power to be amazing and to teach us a new beginning.
This authority of God is inspiring and everlasting.
This authority is given to each one of us just for the asking.
It is given to us as we open our hearts to receive.
This authority is the power of God, the Incarnate. This power is the Holy One.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
We will find this power to be like none other and we are constantly amazed and rejoice in it.
The authority of God in and through our lives is a gift.
This gift is there for us to open.
The gifts are waiting at the altar.
When we open them we are always presented with the Holiness of God.
Let us be amazed and rejoice in it.
Amen
Comments? Contact The Rev. Carolynne Williams: cwilliams@stphilipscathedral.org