‘Whenever the unclean spirits saw him … he sternly ordered them not to make him known’ (Mark 3: 11-12) … a sculpture in Lichfield Cathedral (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Patrick Comerford
The 40-day season of Christmas continues until Candlemas or the Feast of the Presentation (2 February). This week began with the Second Sunday of Epiphany (Epiphany II), with readings that focussed on the Wedding at Cana, the third great Epiphany theme, alongside the Visit of the Magi and the Baptism of Christ.
Today is the Sixth Day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and the Anglican Cycle of Prayer today prays for the Diocese of Lichfield. Before today begins, I am taking some quiet time this morning to give thanks, to reflect, to pray and to read in these ways:
1, today’s Gospel reading;
2, a short reflection;
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary;
4, the Collects and Post-Communion prayer of the day.
‘Whenever the unclean spirits saw him … he sternly ordered them not to make him known’ (Mark 3: 11-12) … a sculpture in La Lonja, the former Silk Market in Valencia (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Mark 3: 7-12 (NRSVA):
7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the lake, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; 8 hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. 9 He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; 10 for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, ‘You are the Son of God!’ 12 But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.
‘Whenever the unclean spirits saw him … he sternly ordered them not to make him known’ (Mark 3: 11-12) … a sculpture in La Lonja, the former Silk Market in Valencia (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Today’s Reflection:
The Gospel reading at the Eucharist today (Mark 3: 7-12) tells us that as a consequence of the healing stories we have been reading throughout this week, people come to Jesus in great numbers. These people are not only from his own region of Galilee, but from the neighbouring and surrounding areas, including Judea, Jerusalem and Idumea to the south of Galilee, from regions beyond the Jordan to the east, and from the Phoenician and Greek-speaking areas to the north, around Tyre and Sidon.
One of those regions, Idumea, also known as Edom, has significant historical and biblical importance. It was to the south of ancient Judah and is often associated with the descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob.
The name Idumea (Ἰδουμαία) is the Greek form of Edom, which means ‘red’, probably referring to the red sandstone terrain of the region or to the reddish appearance of Esau at birth (see Genesis 25: 25). Idumea is frequently mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, where it is identified as the land settled by Esau and his descendants (see Genesis 36: 8).
The Edomites or people of Idumea were often in conflict with the Israelites, reflecting the tumultuous relationship between Esau and Jacob. The Edomites refused passage to the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt (see Numbers 20: 14-21). This act of hostility set the stage for future animosities. Obadiah prophesied against Edom, condemning them for their violence against their brother Jacob and predicting their downfall (Obadiah 1: 10-14).
During the reign of King David, Edom was subjugated and became a vassal state (II Samuel 8: 13-14). The Psalmist says: ‘Upon Edom I will toss my sandal’ (Psalm 60: 8). However, the Edomites regained independence during the reign of King Jehoram of Judah (II Kings 8: 20-22). The prophets frequently spoke against Edom, highlighting its pride and eventual judgment: Isaiah 34: 5-6 speaks of the Lord’s sword descending in judgment upon Edom; Jeremiah 49: 17-18 predicts its desolation; and Ezekiel 25: 12-14 prophesies against Edom for taking vengeance on the house of Judah.
By New Testament times, Idumea had become a Roman province. Herod the Great, the king of Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth, was of Idumean descent. This connection is significant, as Herod’s rule and his attempt to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2: 16) are seen as a continuation of the enmity between the descendants of Esau and Jacob.
Today’s Gospel passage mentions that people from Idumea came to hear Jesus, indicating the region’s continued existence and its people’s interest in the teachings of Christ (Mark 3: 8).
The persistent conflict between Israel and Edom are reminders of the consequences for generations of discord within families and the enduring nature of divine justice. The account of Idumea underscores the biblical theme of God’s faithfulness to his promises and his ultimate plan for redemption through Christ, who reconciles all enmity.
‘Upon Edom I will toss my sandal’ (Psalm 60: 8) … sandals in a shoe shop in Rethymnon (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Today’s Prayers (Thursday 23 January 2025):
The theme this week in ‘Pray With the World Church’, the Prayer Diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), is ‘Whom Shall I Send?’ This theme was introduced on Sunday with a Programme Update by Rachael Anderson, Senior Communications and Engagement Manager, USPG.
The USPG Prayer Diary today (Thursday 23 January 2025) invites us to pray:
Gracious God, we lift to you the leaders and organisers of the ‘Whom Shall I Send?’ training. Thank you for their vision, dedication, and hard work in bringing together young leaders.
The Collect:
Almighty God,
in Christ you make all things new:
transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
make known your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
The Post-Communion Prayer:
God of glory,
you nourish us with your Word
who is the bread of life:
fill us with your Holy Spirit
that through us the light of your glory
may shine in all the world.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Additional Collect:
Eternal Lord,
our beginning and our end:
bring us with the whole creation
to your glory, hidden through past ages
and made known
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yesterday’s Reflection
Continued Tomorrow
‘He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd’ (Mark 3: 9) … boats ready for hire at Bako National Park north of Kuching in Sarawak (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2024)
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
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