“The still point in the turning world”
A Gospel Enquiry
Introduction
Jesuit Father Mark Link (1924-2017) wrote many books, including He is the Still Point of the turning world (1971). The book is a carefully crafted set of quotes, reflections and images about the centrality of Christ in the Christian worldview.
In one reflection, which he titles “The Door,” Link brings together a quote from the Gospel of John (10:9) and a passage from The Parables of Peanuts, by Robert Short. Part of the reflection is particularly relevant to this Gospel Enquiry, indeed, every Enquiry:
All of us must first be completely stripped of all false gods or false securities before we can go through that narrow door called “Jesus” (Link, 1971, p.49).
This is a succinct explanation of the Judge part of the Gospel Enquiry. The Gospel is intended to challenge disciples to determine what prevents them from imitating Christ by surrendering to the Will of God.
Perhaps this is the reason why the questions in the Judge section of the Enquiry move from what you think about the situation presented in the Gospel; to recognising and acknowledging the challenge to your faith coming from what Jesus says and does; and then what your response ought to be as a faithful disciple of Jesus.
After all, the Gospel Enquiry is about faith in action.
The Gospel
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lakeside, and great crowds from Galilee followed him. From Judaea, Jerusalem, Idumaea, Transjordania and the region of Tyre and Sidon, great numbers who had heard of all he was doing came to him. And he asked his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, to keep him from being crushed. For he had cured so many that all who were afflicted in any way were crowding forward to touch him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and shout, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he warned them strongly not to make him known. (Mark 3:7-12)
The Enquiry
See
What is it like to be sought out by others? Is popularity, for whatever reason, a blessing? or a curse? or both?
What has Jesus done that makes him the focus of the attention of so many people? And who are the people who seek him out?
How does Jesus respond to the attention shown to him? What does he teach you about how to help others?
Judge
What do you think about this? Do you seek out Jesus in the way that people did about two thousand years ago?
How is your faith challenged by what you read in this Gospel? What do you accept about yourself? about Jesus?
What sort of relationship with Jesus would you like to have? Do you want the same for others?
Act
What do you want to change in the world so that Jesus will be celebrated as “the still point in the turning world”?
What action can you carry out this week that will contribute to the change you would like to see?
Who can you involve in your action, when, how often and how?
Image source: William Hole (1846-1917), photographer: Jesus healing people afflicted with many diseases. Library of Congress, itoldya, PDM 1.0