Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man

 

 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- 'then he need not honor his father or mother.'  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me. 

And in vain they worship Me, 

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" 

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the  mouth, this defiles a man."  Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."  So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

 

- Matthew 15:1-20 

 

On Saturday we read that, following His feeding of five thousand men, and more women and children, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the son of God."  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick,  and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

 

  Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- 'then he need not honor his father or mother.'  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:  'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"   When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the  mouth, this defiles a man."  Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."  So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."  My study Bible explains that the tradition of the elders is a reference to the interpretations of the Law by Jewish teachers.  Jesus refutes their views that ritual purity depends on outward actions.  Instead, it is the state of the heart that determines a person's purity.  Here also, Jesus shows that the commandment of God cannot be superseded by people's religious traditions. Devotion to God includes both obedience to God's commandments and service to others -- and these two things cannot be separated (see also James 2:14-18; 1 John 4:7-21).   

 

In today's reading, Jesus yet again emphasizes the state of the heart as the true state of a person, the place upon which we're judged.  But there is more to it than this simple statement.  The state of the heart is responsible for what comes out of the mouth, for the things we say, and thereby the evil things upon which we'll be judged.  Jesus gives examples, saying, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."   This is why, in Christian practice and history, what's called the "guarding of the heart" (Proverbs 4:23) has been so significant.  In this sense, the inner life and the works we do are connected, but it is the guarding of the heart -- that is, an awareness of what we are doing and thinking, and taking steps to notice and to correct habits internal to us which put us in a bad place -- that ensures salvation, and a life lived on Christ's terms.  This is by no means the first time Jesus has addressed the connection between the reality of the heart and the ways we express ourselves, and what that has to do with judgment.  In the Sermon on the Mount, He equated the statute against murder with the effects of name-calling (Matthew 5:21-26).  He spoke of the statute against adultery and tied it to lust in the heart (Matthew 5:27-30).  He also forbade the swearing of oaths, emphasizing, "Let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No" be "No" (Matthew 5:33-37).  In chapter 12 of St. Matthew's Gospel, Jesus was accused by the Pharisees of casting out demons by the power of Satan. He said to them, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.  But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:33-37).   Again, the emphasis is on our language, what proceeds out of the mouth, as Jesus says in today's reading, and in particular how that is connected to the state of the heart.  We could compare today's reading to the habits people are very proud of mastering in today's world, such as fasting, and in particular weight loss.  We also observe many who feel they are helping the world and preventing cruelty to animals through vegan and vegetarian diets.  In many religious traditions, regulation of diet plays a role.  This remains true in Christianity particularly for Orthodox Christians, for whom vegan or semi-vegan fasting days officially form roughly half the days of the year on the Church calendar.  But as Christians, we're not called to follow rules legalistically; fasting is a practice "remember God" and to learn and apply self-discipline to all areas of our lives, including the guarding of the heart, how we treat others, and especially that which proceeds out of our mouths, to paraphrase Jesus.  It's important that we note Christ's condemnation of hypocrisy, for there are ways of showing things outwardly that mask the reality of the heart, as the quotation from Isaiah in today's reading indicates (Isaiah 29:13-14).  Perhaps the great damage done by hypocrisy in the world is directly attributable to the failure to take these teachings of Christ seriously and apply them to our lives.  We might think for a few moments of the horrors done in the world in the name of progress, purporting to follow theories that were supposed to make countries better places, even the world a place of greater equality, democracy, justice -- all resulting in mass deaths in the millions over the past century or so.  Christ cites the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees in today's reading, and He will go on to scathingly condemn them throughout a whole chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel prior to His death on the Cross, which includes the disastrous conclusion for Jerusalem due to the failure of its religious leadership (see Matthew 23).  When life becomes a series of memes, repetition of slogans, and theories purporting new solutions to old problems, we open the door to a hypocritical front masking all kinds of unsavory motivations and will to power at any cost.  Let us consider the importance of the guarding of both our hearts and lips, the prudence that asks of us sincerity and purity of the heart as true goals in life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you"

 

 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

 

- Mark 2:1–12 

 

Yesterday we read that as soon as Jesus and His disciples had come out of the synagogue in Capernaum where He preached, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them.  At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."  And He was preaching in their synagogues and throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.  Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself t the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.   

 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.  And He preached the word to them.  Again, we observe that Mark's Gospel emphasizes the quick growth of Christ's ministry.  Once Jesus was known to be in the house of Simon and Andrew's family, a sort of Galilean ministry headquarters in Capernaum, immediately many gathered together.   The house is so full that there is no longer room to receive more, not even near the door.  How does Jesus respond to the crowds?  He preached the word to them.

Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.  And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.  So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."  My study Bible asks us to observe that this healing of the paralytic shows that faith is an indispensable condition for salvation.  It notes that faith is collective as well as personal, for it is the faith of the paralytic's friends that also helped in his healing.  

And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"  My study Bible points out that one purpose of Christ's coming into the world is to forgive sins, which frees humanity from its bondage.  To forgive sins is a greater power than physical healing, it says, for, as the scribes correctly assert, God alone can forgive sins.  Therefore, the easier task is to grant physical healing.  Although Christ is fully God and holds the authority to forgive, He condescends to those who are gathered in the house, healing this man in order to draw people to God, whom they glorified.  Additionally, we're asked to note that there are three signs of Christ divinity shown in this passage.  First, He knows the secrets of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Chronicles 6:30).  Second, Christ forgives sins, which is a power that belongs to God alone.  And finally, He heals by the power of His word (Genesis 1:3).

In the "immediate" nature of the people's response to Christ, and His growing ministry that results, we may make a new observation of the people's efforts to get to Him.  They seem desperate for Him, and for what He is offering.  The healings possible through Him could certainly explain this.  But there is more to the story, as what Christ responds with to the initial full gathering inside this house is preaching.  He preaches to them the word of the gospel, a message they need to hear.  It is as though they are hungry, and this is the way He feeds them, offering us one facet of meaning to the feedings that will take place in the wilderness (Mark 6:30-44, Mark 8:1-10).   Then we observe the great efforts made by the paralytic's friends to get him before Jesus.  They not only make a physical effort to go the "extra mile" (so to speak) to lift a part of the roof and lower him down into the midst of the house, they've also first made the creative plan to do so, and executed the plan.  This is a rather creative and adaptive thing to do in a situation that presents difficulties and possible complications.  Perhaps for that house and in that place and time it is a simpler concept than for a modern building of some type, but nonetheless we can see the various efforts they exert here.  But the thing to observe is that Jesus praises them, for this is the effort that displays their faith.  It is the expression of the faith that Jesus says is responsible for the healing.  So what we may observe in these obstacles and difficulties (i.e. the paralytic cannot move himself in the first place, neither can his friends easily bring him into the house without some sort of clever plan and the will to carry it out) is that they bring out the faith of the paralytic and his friends.  Their resourcefulness, their action, their capacity to respond to obstacles with creative plans and the will to execute them, are all expressions of faith and the actual living of that faith.  They were emboldened through their faith; they took courage in their efforts because of faith in Christ and their objective to reach Him.  In this same sense we must view our own lives when things don't come easily to us, when we seem to be surrounded by obstacles we have to think and work and plan and create alternatives around in order to find our way forward toward Christ.  In so many places in the Bible, we're asked to see that it is in this living of our faith -- especially around obstacles and difficulties -- that our faith is displayed, pulled out of us, drawn out, and discovered.  In Mark chapter 7, Jesus seemingly insults a Syro-Phoenician woman who is begging Him to free her young daughter from an unclean spirit.  He responds to her, referring to the Jews as God's children, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs."  But she takes up this challenge, this obstacle thrown in the way of her objective, and meets it with both cleverness and humility.  She tells Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs."  For this effort, He replies to her, "For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter."  See Mark 7:24-30.   There are all kinds of ways in which we may observe the inherent power found in the efforts of human beings to live their faith in the stories of the Gospels, especially in the challenges met by people who are desperately seeking to encounter Jesus, or even the challenges Jesus Himself places before them in meeting Him.  It seems that we are repeatedly asked to understand that it is in the living of our faith, and the efforts we must make to use our physical capacities, our intelligence, our creativity, and the audacity and courage in our strength to pursue that faith and to discover its depth and power, that God takes delight.  All of the stories of the Bible, from Israel's forty years of wandering in the wilderness, to exile, to the struggles of the faithful individuals and burgeoning communities that fill the New Testament, teach us about challenges that reveal our faith, and call upon every resource we have to express it and live it.  Indeed, we may come to know and understand that this is what it means to "work the works of God" (John 6:27-29).  God, in this sense, seemingly challenges us to come to God, and this mysterious journey is worth every effort for what it gives us, and teaches us about ourselves.

Great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed

 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him.  And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."  However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.  So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.  And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.  Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.  And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.  When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."  And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"

- Luke 5:12-26

 Yesterday we read that, as the multitude pressed about Jesus to hear the word of God, He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.  Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.  When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."  But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid.  From now on you will catch men."  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him.  Leprosy, says my study bible, was one of the most dreaded diseases of Jesus' time.  It brought not only tremendous physical suffering, but also meant total banishment and isolation from society.  It is also seen as a symbol of our sin.  To touch a leper was prohibited, but Jesus' heals the man by touch.

And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."   Jesus is respectful of the Law, and sends the man to a priest as is required for his re-entry into the community.  My study bible notes the commentary of Cyril of Alexandria, who writes that Jesus gives this command in order to convince the priests by a tangible miracle that He is superior to Moses.  The priests hold Moses to be greater than Christ, but Christ heals a leper immediately and with His own divine authority.  When Miriam (Moses' sister) was struck with leprosy, Moses had to seek mercy from above, and even then she was only healed after seven days (Numbers 12:10-15).

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.  So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.  It's important to understand Jesus' humanity and also His discernment and constant connection to the Father.  He withdraws often into the wilderness for prayer.   So should we do likewise, as we all need time alone for prayer and to take rest in prayer.

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.  And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.   Matthew's Gospel sets this passage in Capernaum, calling it "His own city" (Matthew 9:1).  By now Jesus' fame is so well-spread, that those authorities have come from all over Israel to His "headquarters" (most likely the family home of Simon Peter) to hear Him.

Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.  And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.  When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."  Here is a faith exhibited not only in the paralytic but even in his friends, who help him with every effort to get to Jesus.  My study bible says that this particular miracle shows us that faith is an indispensable condition for salvation.  Faith, in fact, is collective as well as personal -- a notable reality of the Kingdom -- for the faith of this paralytic's friends helped in his healing.  The acts of these friends can be seen as similar to those who pray for others in all situations; even our prayers for the dead are considered to be effective appeals to the mercy of God.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"   There are three signs of Jesus' divinity exhibited in today's passage.  First, He knows the secrets of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Chronicles 6:30).  Second, He forgives sins, which is a power that belongs to God alone.  And finally, He heals by the power of His word.

It's important to note that Jesus rests and withdraws for prayer, and that He does so often and into the wilderness.  That is, into a deserted place away from people.  We all need this.  If even Jesus, the Christ or Messiah, needs this for Himself, one can only imagine how badly we need it, not only for direction in our lives, and guidance, but even for proper rest and withdrawal from a busy, social life.  There are multitudes coming to see Jesus.  His ministry has reached a place where it may be seen in modern terms as "successful," but what we really learn is how word about Him has spread, and how much He is in demand.  All sorts come to Him now for healing, and to hear Him as well.  By worldly standards, we are often set to think that as much work as one can do as possible is simply the one and only really "good" thing.  We might even think in terms of "doing good" in the world, good works, healing and preaching, that we would admire Jesus for being so busy all the time, and responding to all the needs and demands that come to Him from the world.  But that's not really the example that Jesus sets here.  The Gospel tells us not only that He would withdraw away from people, into the wilderness, and to pray, but even that He would do so often.  We can't quite get it into our worldly heads and understanding that this, too, is part of ministry, part of healing the world.  It's that divine connection with God, with the Kingdom of heaven, that we find in prayer and withdrawal from social life that functions not just as a sort of reset button, not just as refreshment and renewal, but that in fact creates the conditions within which we are able to serve God.  To dwell within this place of relationship, to abide in Him (and in the Holy Trinity) is to live in a place from which we are capable of bringing God's love into the world and all that means for the world, as embodied in Jesus Christ.  To withdraw into the wilderness isn't merely a response to the demands put upon Him in terms of needing rest.  It is, on the contrary, a place for Christ to go in order to direct His ministry from here, to conduct it as He needs to, to respond to the conditions of the ministry as He is called to do, and to discern what He needs to do going forward.  And we should take this all to heart for our own lives as Christians and as followers of Christ.  For us, taking rest "in Him" becomes a way to find ourselves and find direction for what we do with our lives, as well as personal renewal.  To sit contemplatively in a church service may function for us the same way, renewal that is available in those times of "collective faith" that my study bible speaks of.  All of this is reinforcement of the Kingdom in the world, the place in which we wish to dwell, and it is not merely a response to busy-ness and a demanding life.  Rather, it is the place where we may nurture the seeds of the Kingdom, renew our direction and intentions, forgive what we need to forgive, and spend time with God in the embrace of God's love and grace.  What we should understand is that in the terms of the holy, this is the place where beauty is, and where we may become a part of it and abide in it, and be a part of it in the world.  Let us follow and learn from His example, for all gifts come from there.