8 March - Come to me

Reading:
Mark 2

Mark 1 ends with Jesus ducking and diving in the "lonely places", away from the villages and towns.Yet Mark 2 starts off again with Jesus back at "home" in Capernaum, in a house and immersed in crowds spilling out onto the streets. That's the setting for the story of the five guys wanting to get to Jesus, one of them having to be carried. Except that they couldn't. It reminds a bit of the stories we've heard of people trampling each other trying to get in at big massive department store sales. There's simply no way to get to the front.

One of the ways in which we can think of Scripture, is as an invitation. The narrative, the poetry, the prophets, the letters, the message, it all boils down to an invitation to come to God, to come back to him, to continue coming to him. It is an enticing invitation. How is it then that people find reasons to decline (Mt 22:1-10) or postpone (Lk 14:15-24 - which is the same as declining really)? The five guys at Capernaum didn't decline or make excuses, but they still found it real hard to respond to the invite. Circumstances were against them. They pushed through though, and when they got to Jesus, there came the surprise: "Son, your sins are forgiven." What an odd thing for Jesus to say! The paralyzed guy didn't confess or repent. He probably didn't even want forgiveness - he wanted to walk. But he responded to the great call of Scripture; "Come to me", and in doing so, he got a lot more than he bargained for.

That is why we observe Lent. It is just another way for us - in community - to respond to this deeply personal call from God ringing out through the ages.

"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life".  Rev 22:17

Some more of the "Come to me" scriptures:  Isa 55:1-3 / Mt 11:28 / Mt 19:14 / Jn 5:40 / Jn 7:37