Beside the Water

Jesus went out again beside the lake; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax-collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax-collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard this, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’ Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. ‘No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.’ Mark 2:13-22

The oceans, lakes and rivers are more than nice places to vacation. This time of year they are often overrun by people desperate to get away from city crowds only to find themselves crowded in again. The waters are a part of us, a close and ancient relative, and one necessary for our existence. Waters have stories to tell and Jesus did much of his story telling by the water. And he called disciples from beside the sea. Many miracles were witnessed there. The water helps still our racing hearts, helps us to go deep into the Spirit and invites us to open our hearts in new ways. May we seek the healing and renewing waters today.

Gracious Creator, you moved over the water

you send healing streams flowing towards us

you invite us to a close relationship with you

and you've called your disciples by the waters.

We often abuse the life giving streams and oceans

neglecting the ancient wisdom and living peace

we take and destroy in our frustration and pain

taking for granted the gifts you have given to all.

May we walk humbly beside the waters today

hearing the cries of the gull as a new invitation

to follow you more deeply and more lovingly

seeking your healing and renewal for us all. Amen.