After John had been arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God –
each generation’s voice
rings differently
even when the same words
are soundeda trumpet call to action
comes also
in a growl of bass sax
plinkity ukebasic announcements extend
between arts
each rallying as only it can
common sensean announcement of good
accepted belovedness
shifts a motivation to partner
toward becausejust because it is good
for one
regardless of past circumstance
for allwhich brings us to updates
not automatic
ringing unheard changes
awaiting choiceyour new word remembers our path
deeply rutted
your next word arrests our attention
thankfully changed
We are about to make another abrupt chronological and geographic shift. Each of these carries a sense of urgency to address a crisis in any communities listening to Mark. How can we survive in our current wilderness?
Not only has John been arrested, but so have all of us. Occupation and poverty weaken our source of trust, whether that is spoken of in absolute terms or metaphorically.
Jesus enters another wilderness by going to Galilee. Here rules Herod Antipas, who had John arrested and executed. For Jesus it is out of the frying pan and into the fire. Luke recognizes this by recording the Pharisees warning Jesus about Herod (Luke 13:31).
It also can indicate that John traveled in more than one wilderness—that of deserts and locusts as well as lakes and palaces.
This act of resisting by showing up is significant for each of us as our anxiety about our own safety or how we are perceived within the church or by our peers leads us to compromise our reception of steadfast love and our embodying it in the midst of difficult times.