Throughout the Bible, there are stories of Jesus approaching the unapproachable. In our Gospel (Mark 1:21-28) for this fourth Sunday after Epiphany, as Jesus began teaching inside the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit began shouting at Him. The force of the man’s accusations struck fear in those around him. With authority, Jesus commanded the spirit to, “Come out of him!” and it did! The people were amazed, and Jesus’s “fame began to spread throughout the region”.
Pastor Beth further illustrated “approaching the unapproachable” with a personal story, a dramatic scene that unfolded in a previous congregation.
We were reminded that God’s love takes away the fear of approaching others who may seem different from us. We are God’s children and that gives us the authority to extend compassion to other children of God. The homeless and unaccompanied youth are part of our community. Is God calling us at St. Mark to approach them with the loving hand of Jesus?
Click the link below to listen to Pastor Beth’s compelling story, and suggestions to consider for extending the hand of Jesus in our community.