Focus On Existence

Read: Mark 1:1-15

Focus on Existence is the first matter of living the sacred life. Scriptures speak of humans existing in response to the love of God. The Marken account of Jesus touched my inner being and gave a thrist for God. I found refreshment in reading Psalms 4:3, 23, 25:6, 30:5, 32:1, 33:9, 34:7, 37:3, 41:1, 42:8, 46:1 & 6, 50:15, 62:12, 73:1, 76:6, 77:14, 84:11, 89:8, 91:1-16, 103:2,13, 104:10-30, 107:1 &9, 112:4, 121:3, 127:1, 128:2, 139:3, 144:5, 145:16; and 18:1, 31:23, 37:4. All within being human is due to the Being of Existence.

The question of being in the world is an ontological essential. Rene Descartes, (1596 - 1650), placed rational knowledge at the root of existentialism as opposes to information received through senses. His famed philosophical gem is cogito ergo sum, meaning "I think, therefore I am." Descartes in the mindset of most scholars went too far in downplaying the physical world, still his stress on subjectivity and individuality has influence the philosophy and theology of existential being. While Descartes has forever been rooted within, it is the work of Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), Paul Tillich (1886-1965), and increasingly Edmund Husserl (1859-1938) that impacts writings of the laptop theologian. The challenge contrast between rational knowledge and "sense data" motives a deeper search for peace.

Husserl concept of intentionality as a state of consciousness in awareness of something, which consciousness is always in a state of awareness. Within current thought is the seach for peace through faith in the intention of divine creation. God had an intentional beginning and has an eternity intention that will not be denied believers though interrupted by the sin - estrangement that creates angst. Existence allow human beings to exist in reality. Blessed human existence is confirmed by conscious awareness of existing in affirmation of the intentionality of the Creator of life, which is Existence that I have learned to call God. In reality, grace is the characteristics of God known by mere human existence.

When Lily was baptized in United Methodist Church Huntington-Cold Spring Harbor, it was in response to a sermon her parents heard preached at a funeral of a friend. When the eulogy was delivered, I barely knew our mutual friend. However, the means of grace in our mutual existence affirmed a birth as much as it confirmed an existence beyond death. In all that we say as well as in what we do may there be divine intervention, so that grace and mercy brings us to an appreciation of existence. By the grace Existence, dare to believe you exist because Existence is in you, so as to know without doubt you exist in Existence.

In the gospel of Mark, Jesus appears in rapid doings during his three years in public ministry, and Mark seems to rush his readers to the cross, where Jesus in the final chapter is finally identified after fifteen previous chapters of evangelical theology. Though the briefest of the four gospels with evangel zeal the Markan account affirms the acknowledgement of Jesus by the demonic near the beginning & centurion near the end, so that the wise may come to know the Son of Man, Son of God. May our identity stated in the beginning be confirmed in the end, and on the in between may our socio-theology be embodied in evangelization that brings individuals from every walk of life to the awareness of existing by the grace of Existence.

A theology of intentionality grounds believers in the will of God, so that the intention of God appears unintentionally automatic in the lives of righteous beings. Only humans are capable of such Christian perfection. Jesus having been the only one intentionally born with such perfection sacrificed, so that the born free might will to be in the intention of God as opposed to living void of God's love. Thus, ask the question that I exist to answer: Are humans saved into an existential relation with God without Jesus?

Existentialism in reality dies without God. It is an existence doom to fate void of existing grounded in Being. Through the reality of God found in Jesus Christ, the only source of human perfection, flawed humans overcome estrangement and angst by faith in Christ alone for eternity beyond a mere good life on earth. People may live good without having faith in Jesus, yet I have never met one with an eternal focus on Existence void of the blessed assurance of Jesus Christ.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and bless our souls unto eternal Existence. Amen.

Immediately

Mark 1:1-15
The Gospel of Mark benefited from the upswing of the  historic-critical method in biblical studies.
Noted to have been written by John Mark, son of Mary 0f Jerusalem (Acts 12:12), who was a cousin to Barnabas - co-worker of the apostle Paul, this brief Gospel of Mark speaks to the supernatural power of Jesus Christ over nature, disease, and demons. The divine power of Jesus Christ delivers good deeds to all people, so even Gentiles should believe he is the Son of Man - Son of God. Mark is a narrative void of the intellectual appeal found in Matthew and Luke with much of its sections having as a key joining word “immediately.” Mark does not contain infancy narratives, Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, or the Lord’s Prayer, and compared to Matthew or Luke there is an adequate supply of parables. The gospels of Matthew and Luke seem to contain more intellectual theological subjects.

The Gospel of Matthew is essentially intended to show that Jesus, born of Mary, is the Messiah of Jewish prophecy. Thought to have been written by the tax collector, who was called by Jesus to the making of disciples, the Gospel records the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy as a means convincing Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. The Gospel of Luke, written by "the beloved physician," historian, writer, and companion of the apostle Paul, carries the most complete biography of Jesus. Jesus is viewed as the Son of Man, who has compassion for the sinful and the poor. Eyewitnesses gave to Luke an orderly accounting and connecting narrative on the life of Jesus as the Christ. This gospel speaks to the grace of God witnessed in Jesus. It is the same grace granted in life today through which men and women are saved. We desire you to read and see without under estimating the grace of God.

What does the Gospel of Mark offer in terms of Christology? The task is to show
appreciation for the theology contained in the Markan account. Then, construct a picture of Jesus relying solely on the text of the Gospel of Mark and relate it to social justice. In fact, it may be best to search through the work of John Mark and grasp social fairness. The historical context in which this Gospel was written provides clues as to what Mark was trying to convey to the original audience, readers and hearers of the work. Most scholars consent that Mark was written at around A.D. 69-73 in Rome during the persecution of Christians under Nero. So, the subject matter of suffering and conditions necessary for discipleship are central to Mark, because of the hardships endured by the first Century Christian community. I content that there can be no justice in that, except for the mystic workings of God to ushering divine defeat of human injustice making possible for unjust human beings to practice fairness, even where there is no possibility of justice.

Immediately, Mark summarizes the theological subject of his gospel in the first fifteen verses. Mark ushers Jesus in as the One to fulfill the announce: "The time has come ," says Jesus, "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15) The arrival of the kingdom of God on earth does not appear has the deliver of justice as expected and desired by the Jews. Rather, the kingdom comes to show the way to love with fairness.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and bring us to love with fairness in view of peace with justice. Amen.