going to market?
"They laid the sick in the market places and begged Him to let them touch just the tassel of His cloak. All who touched Him got well." —Mark 6:56
When we think of healing, we often think of a hospital, doctor's office, or even a church. However, the primary location for Jesus' amazing healing ministry was the market place. In fact, the primary location for Jesus' whole ministry was the market place. Jesus preached and taught in the market place. Therefore, healing would also be in the market place, because it accompanied the proclamation of the word (Mk 16:20).
The market place in Jesus' times was not just where you buy something, but it was the center of social life. Jesus' market place was business, family, and entertainment all rolled into one. Therefore, if we focus our ministry on the market place as Jesus did, we will bring prayer into our homes and businesses. We will use the mass media for evangelization, and witness for Jesus especially on the job. We may see more healing services at work than at church. Our houses will be houses of prayer (see Is 56:7) and will even be Christian communities. The mass media will be saturated with the gospel.
As Jesus did, we must go to the market place with the gospel.
Prayer: Father, may I never be ashamed of the gospel (Rm 1:16), but proclaim it from the housetops (Mt 10:27).
Promise: "Then God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." —Gn 1:3
Praise: A popular fast food chain has a crucifix prominently displayed in one of its locations.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Mission Impossible, or our tape on audio AV 46-1 or video V-46.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July27, 2010
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