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	UNWELL

The Gospel

MARK 3:7-10

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.

The Media

"Unwell"

(Matchbox Twenty)

"All day," the group Matchbox Twenty begins their song "Unwell,", "staring at the ceiling, makin’ friends with shadows on my wall; all night hearing voices telling me that I should get some sleep because tomorrow might be good for something. I’m feeling like I’m headed for a breakdown and I don’t know why." He’s unwell, they sing, a little impaired, and you are led to believe that he is not going to come out of this pain because the person in the song wants the other to stay around, and it does not seem as though she will. It is not a song with a happy ending: he will be hurt, and probably pretty badly.

Anyone who has pain for some reason will question what he/she should do to get rid of that pain. For physical pain, it is relatively obvious. Although it may not always be successful, we take some medicine to help take away the pain. When the pain is psychological or spiritual, it is more difficult, and it may involve reaching out to someone for help.

The crowds that pressed in on Jesus were of that very thinking. The evangelist Mark describes the people in Jesus’ early ministry to be people “who were pressing upon him to touch him,” so much so that Jesus had to take precautions to maintain his own safety. The people knew that they needed something or someone who could help them, and one is led to believe that their pains were not only physical, but in many cases, the pain was much deeper.

What does one do with the mental pain that accompanies living in our world? Actually, there are many things a person can do. The person could retreat to a quiet place for some serious meditation, maybe see a counselor and ask for advice, or simply take time away and relax.

Maybe part of the solution for believers in Jesus is to turn to him for the help they need. As the crowds did in Jesus’ early life, Christian people should seek Jesus out, look for what he can do for them, and then give themselves to him so that they can be “touched” by him. It will consist of time with him in prayer, asking for the things that are needed, but especially learning from him about what to do and what not to do. We are all a little “unwell,” but the encouraging thing for the Christian, is that we have a remedy if we turn to Jesus.

THOUGHT

What should we do to help a friend who is suffering from some mental pain?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son offers us himself to help our situations, to make us a little more “well” in the way that we approach life. Give us the grace to turn to him when we are hurting, and help us help others who might be a little “unwell.” Be with us, we pray.

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