Psalms 75, 76, 23, 27 | Genesis 43:16-34 | 1 Corinthians 7:10-24 | Mark 5:1-20
Here is what I love about living in the modern day world. Sunday, January 31st, while leafing
through “The Good News” bulletin I note “Lenten meditation passages are due on February 1st”. Uh
oh. A random neuron synapses in my brain, “didn't Liz recruit me during coffee hour two weeks
ago?” My next concern, where are my assigned readings?
After riffling through two purses, three coats, and four sets of pants pockets, I turn to what I
always do when requiring immediate help about church affairs — email Priscilla. This sets off an
all-important chain reaction: two emails, one phone call and a voice mail later, I have the
information.
Admittedly, now it is 10:30 PM on February 1st, the deadline. I am trying to remind myself what part of “meditating” is this? Meditations are supposed to be calming, the color celery green,
lavender smells, water sounds over smooth rocks, deep breaths, and imagery. Not tonight: for me
it's power up the laptop, click Firefox, Google Genesis, Google Corinthians, and finally Google
Mark 5:1-20. Gotcha. I have the message.
The CliffsNotes to the reading: Two men are “possessed by demons”. Jesus comes upon them. The men try to negotiate with Jesus to thrust them in with a herd of swine instead of being banished. Jesus abides by their request. He sends them to live with the swine. Bad news, the swine run into the water and all die, demons included. Much like “whisper down the lane” game, verses 1-20 in Mark recount the demon/swine story, modifying some of the key facts: one demon, two demons, 2000 swine more or less.
Thoughts about that many swine remind me of the H1N1 situation in 2009. That line of reasoning advances me to the shortage this year of the medicine Tamiflu. Thoughts of medications in times of need roll over to the devastation in Haiti. Another valuable website surfaces: www.er-d.org. We need to give generously to those in desperate need. This is why I love living in the modern world. Technology and human interaction brings us closer, swine or no swine.
— Stephanie Hunter
Complete list of meditations
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