In this account from Mark, Jesus had compassion. This word, splagchnizomai in Greek, comes from the root splagchnon (meaning “bowels”) which has a sense of a visceral, gut-level form of compassion. It intrigues me that this deep, embodied compassion prompted Jesus to teach.
Leading up to this moment, Jesus is trying to get away, to rest. His disciples row him toward the people; however, he is compelled by compassion to teach. As he is teaching, I imagine the crowd turning to one another—What did he say?—repeating his words, passing them along.
In this artwork, the elements of the story are framed in a stained glass window design. Centered, the people gather in circles, passing the scarcely abundant food to one another. Waves encircle the crowd, representing the twelve disciples. The outer architectural elements portray the twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish—a representation of abundance from scarcity, powered by collective belief.
Jesus did not have a microphone. It was the people in the front who passed the still, small voice of God back to those behind them. It was the people in the front who passed more than enough food back to those who were hungry. In our propaganda-filled global information system, we must remember: God is not holding the mic. God is present in the still, small voice and in the smallest offerings, multiplying one by one. The message, the compassion, the corners of bread, and the pieces of fish all return in abundance.
– Hannah Garrity
3 Comments
Betty Loumoli
For safe travels on upcoming trips.
For those suffering from illness.
Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.
For those celebrating a birthday.
For those excited to start a new project.
God who is Grace, we give thanks.
Linda Dew-Hiersoux
For Mark who is celebrating his birthday
God who is Grace, we give thanks.
For the people of Japan,
For the people of Libya,
For the people of the world
Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.
Delilah/The Table on Tap
For reconnecting and finding solid ground.
For new friends. And old ones =).
For health and healing and being healed.
God, who is Grace, we give thanks.
For those who are grieving the loss of loved ones.
For those trying to live out God’s plan for them.
For safe travels. For rest.
For those looking for jobs, and looking for people to fill jobs.
Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.