Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 (NRSV)
Read Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 on biblegateway.com
Verse 53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat.
Verse 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him,
Verse 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
Verse 56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Devotion
Old Lutheran, The Center for Lutheran Pride!—so advertises their website, but then includes immediately thereafter the words of caution: "But not too proud"—as if we all needed to be reminded of our relative reticence in comparison with the rest of humanity.
Especially now in the beginnings of a Presidential Campaign we have no shortage of people shouting about their accomplishments, about their deeds, about their beliefs.
But our own understanding of humility seems to prevent us from mentioning why it is we serve meals at the local soup kitchen, or donate regularly to the shelter, or serve on our county's grand jury. Perhaps we seldom associate our faith with our service in our communities—maybe we even feel that the two are not related.
But we are formed by our faith into the people we are, even the people we are in public, and it is a part of our witness that it is in gratitude for our salvation that we seek to better the state of our brothers and sisters. That we act in accordance with the will of God is solely through the Spirit's moving among us, enlightening us, strengthening us, guiding us.
We should give credit where credit is due to be sure, but we should bear witness to what our faith moves us to do as the disciples do in this reading.
Prayer
Blessed Son, Holy Spirit, God divine. Lead us to serve, to bless and to help our brothers and sisters bear the burdens of this fleeting life. Lead us to boldly show forth your love and power in our lives, manifest in the works of our hands and in the sound of our voices as we speak of the difference it makes to have faith in you. Amen.