Midrash-ing with Mark

In the coming weeks, I want to invite us into the spiritual practice of Midrash.  This practice comes from our Jewish brothers and sisters who see Scripture not as some black and white rule book, but as a living dialogue with our dynamic, still creating God.  Scripture not as something only to be memorized but is a conversation to be entered into with God.  The dialogue of Midrash is meant to discover and uncover meaning in our lives today.  Midrash invites you to step into the small spaces in scripture in-between the words.  You can do this by sliding into the sandals of one of the characters.  You can do this by asking questions and bringing your insights/ideas.  You can do this by writing a story about a story (for example, what is the story of the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son?  Can God's creativity artistically find a voice through you in telling that story?).

Richard Rohr writes this in his daily devotional from January 7, 2019,  "[Midrash] lets the passage first challenge you before it challenges anyone else. To use the text in a spiritual way—as Jesus did—is to allow it to convert you, to change you, to grow you up as you respond: What does this ask of me? How might this apply to my life, to my family, to my church, to my neighborhood, to my country?"  (Rohr has two great reflections on Midrash.  Click here to read all of the January 7th devotional.  Click here to read a more recent one from November 2019)

That is what we will be up to in the coming days and weeks.  Mark offers us numerous opportunities for Midrash because he often gives us the bare-bones story to step into.  Mark offers us a spacious place to roam and rummage around, because the way he tells his story is sparse but tenderly and thoughtfully composed.  Midrash continues the prayer practice we have been about in the last few weeks of gazing, not just glancing.  Too often we read scripture in a monotone voice.  We think we are being reverent, but it can come across with all the enthusiasm of Eeyore reading aloud.  Scripture is dynamic, but invites us to slow down, let the words sink, settle, sing, and swim inside our souls.  Scripture takes time ~ like reading poetry.  Scripture can be spacious and stirring, if we are willing to dance with it.  But so often scripture has pushed people's interpretation to the fringe/fray, making you spectators, while the pastor (professional) offers an interpretation.  We have turned the sacred act of interpretation not as a communal moment but making the people of God wall-flowers in the process.  In the coming weeks, you are inviting into another way.

To gaze, not just glance at the scripture.
To prayerfully ponder and pause, not just wait for me to share.
To enter and dance.

So, let's begin where Mark begins.

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way;

 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

    make his paths straight,’”

I invite you to think about beginnings (after all it is a new year).  What is beginning right now for you?  Is it good news?  Tell a story about how it feels right now to be beginning?  Who went before you and beside you in this adventure?  Does the path seem straight where you can see for miles?  Or are there so many twists and turns ahead that you cannot even see 10 feet ahead?

Or

Who was a Sunday School teacher who helped shape your faith?  What did the Sunday School room of your childhood look like, smell like, feel like?

Or

Mark's opening line is his thesis statement.  The whole gospel is about supporting the truth that Jesus is the Son of God.  If you had to come up with a thesis statement about your life right now, what would that be?

I pray you find more than a trace of God's grace midrash-ing with Mark right now.

Blessings ~~