For today’s Friday Five, let’s have a mini-BE 5.0 workshop. Take a look at these five portions from the gospel lections for this Sunday and next, and share with us the images that come to mind for you. Feel free to use words or pictures. (Just remember David Cassidy is taken.)

1. As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. (Mark 1:29-31)

This reminds me of a dear friend who is currently battling cancer. There are literally 1000s praying for.  We her mat-carriers are continually praying for her and her family (her two girls). She got some great news this week. Her tumor has stopped growing! We hope and pray for the day when she will be able to return to the calling God has given her in life.

2. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. (Mark 1:32-34

This one I’m having a hard time coming up with an image. In some ways, it reminds me of my previous blog post where I am trying to sort out between the head and the heart. Hmmm….what do you think my faithful readers?

3. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” (Mark 1:35-37

For some reason this text reminds me of  the movie “Forrest Gump”. Throughout the movie, Forrest is looking for his dearly beloved Jenny. When he finally finds her, he asks her why she never responded to his letters. He says, “Ive been looking for you.” It also reminds me a little of the scenes when Forrest just keeps running and running and running.

4. He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:38-39)

This reminds me of my friend Renee, Renee’s husband Ben and Ben’s cousin Jon. The three of them were in Haiti two years ago when the Haiti earthquake hit. Ben along with the millions of Haitians was killed in the earthquake. Ben spent his last moments of life singing; proclaiming “God’s peace to us we pray.” Today Renee and Jon continue to carry their and Ben’s message to the world.

5. A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. (Mark 1:40-45)

You’ll laugh at this one. It reminds me of my friend Stumbling. His last name is Lepper. As a young child, he thought this text was about his family. However I don’t think he is so off. I think as children/youth, we see ourselves as a leper. It reminds me of Curt Hummel and all the Glee cast from Glee! They are the outsiders, the outcasts yet they find a way to spread cheer through their music.