In the all-too-brief television miracle that was Firefly, there was a lot of excellence crammed into just 14 episodes. Fans all have their favorites. So, in a sense, every episode was the best episode. One particular episode, though, appears on every short-list: “The Message.”
In it, the Captain and First Mate of Serenity find themselves tasked with transporting the body of a man they once served with during the war ... home to his family and his final resting place. They agree to do this after hearing a recording of the man where he references a saying they well know from their military past: “When you can’t run, you crawl, and when you can’t crawl, you find someone to carry you.”
When The Hollies released “He Ain’t Heavy” in 1969, it was immediately appropriated by Vietnam veterans. It so perfectly reflected their wartime experiences of carrying an injured buddy to a place where someone could help. But, the real story behind “He ain’t heavy. He’s my brother.” goes back to Father Flanagan’s Boys Town and an abandoned little boy who had polio (links to The Hollies performance and the Boys Town story are below).
I couldn’t help thinking of “He Ain’t Heavy” and that Firefly episode, especially that saying, when I read this week’s selection from the gospel of Mark. Jesus and team used a boat to try to get away (“to a deserted place”) for a little down-time. But, as they brought their boat to shore, the crowds found them, anyway.
As we know from previous stories, many who were ill were carried into the presence of Jesus. Their needs were so great, they begged permission to just touch “even the fringe of His cloak.” They had all, apparently, heard about the woman who was healed simply by touching the hem of His garment.
Was it true? Or was this just so much talk? Was that all that was needed to be healed, just to touch his garment? Did you have to sit through a sermon, first? Did He have to grab your head and shout? Was there a 12-step program to complete in advance? Was there a pre-interview? Perhaps a statement of faith to declare?
No.
Scripture tells us: "All who touched it were healed." They just needed to do as Private Tracey reminded Mal and Zoe in Firefly, “When you can’t run, you crawl, and when you can’t crawl, you find someone to carry you.”
When it’s Jesus you’re going to see, you need to just get there ... any way you can.
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 11 (16) (July 22, 2018)
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Psalm 89:20-37
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 23
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
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PHOTO & Info about the Boys Town statue: https://www.boystown.org/blog/Pages/story-behind-aint-heavy.aspx
The Hollies sing “He Ain’t Heavy”: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1OLm9qid3I0&t=12s
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A small portion of this reflection appeared in 2015 as part of a reflection titled: “Word Gets Around.”
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Join us Friday morning for an hour like no other. DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast meets at 8:00 in the function room of the Waco “Egg and I” restaurant. We read, we pray, we laugh, and we discuss ... all while enjoying breakfast together.
Get there the best way you can.
Blessings,
Steve
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