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	PART OF THE CURE

The Gospel

MARK 1:9-11

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the

Jordan

by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The Media

"Clocks"

(Coldplay)

“Confusion never stops,” the group Coldplay sings, “closing walls and ticking clocks. Gonna come back and take you home. Come out upon my seas. Am I part of the cure or am I part of the disease.” Their song is a love song of someone who wants his girlfriend back. He seems to realize that he has not really done a good job of love in the past, and now he wants to because, as he sings, nothing else compares to her. If we have not done well in the past with some relationship, we must admit what we have done, and then want to do something about it.

Jesus did not need the baptism of John, but what he did is a perfect example of the human Jesus showing us the way to be better spiritual people: you begin the process of spirituality by admitting sin. The voice from the heavens as recorded by Mark says that God was well pleased with Jesus because Jesus was giving an example that all of us should understand.

If we begin the process of spirituality by admitting that we may be wrong, as the human Jesus did with his Baptism, it is just as true to say that we must begin the process of bringing back a once-upon-a-time romantic love by being able to admit that we may be wrong. Asking ourselves in the love process whether we are part of the cure or part of the disease suggested by Coldplay in their song “Clocks” does that exactly. If we want a past relationship to be present once again, to be part of the “cure” means to recognize that some of the fault is ours; the breakup of the relationship may be the “disease” they are referring to and something to be avoided if we want the love to work.

Whether we are talking basic spirituality or the process of romantic love, the idea of admitting some type of sinfulness in our lives is very important. Our human natures, as such, often move us on the path of too much self-satisfaction. We want what we want. Complete fulfillment of such a desire is selfishness. The beginning of maturity is to understand that we could be part of the problems that surround us, that is, we may be part of the disease. Admitting such a possibility, and truly accepting it, leads to change for the better.

THOUGHT

There are usually two sides to a reason for a breakup in relationships. Why don’t we like to admit any fault ourselves?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you said that you were well pleased with your Son when he admitted the possibility of sinfulness in his life. Help us understand that we can be better people if we accept the possibility of sinfulness, and after we admit it, help us turn to you for your support and grace. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike