As we begin our new worship series, Miracles, Jones is in jail and Andy drives to the small Florida town to pick him up. During his brief stay, Jones meets Keely. Since their encounter is brief and Jones makes little progress in breaking through Keely’s hard outer shell, we will learn more later on in our companion book for this series, Just Jones.
The sub-title for our companion book points to a conundrum that brings the idea of a miracle to mind. “Sometimes a thing is impossible until it is actually done.” After all, a miracle isn’t really a miracle unless it didn’t seem possible.
On the other hand, the idea of a miracle doesn’t necessarily need such tight constraints. Generally, the idea of miracles involves divine intervention. When the experts say no way but a way happens despite their assessment, we say, “It’s a miracle,” in response to the good news.
Meanwhile, tragedy and terror struck again when a teenager killed two teachers and two students at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. The shooter surrendered to police who later arrested his father, charging him with several offenses, including four counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of second-degree murder. The fourteen-year-old used an assault rifle given to him as a Christmas present for his attack at the school he attended.
Several articles appeared focusing on Colt Gray’s mental health and home environment. Quotes from officials and other public figures contained a variety of labels for the mass shooting, including that Colt committed an evil act.
We all want answers. We all want the violence to end. Sadly, we seem more worried about the price of chicken at Kroger than dealing with problems that affect us less directly.
Dr. Harold I. Schwartz, in an article published in the Journal of The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law in 2023, offers insight into common attributes among the perpetrators of school shootings. Is there a switch in the mind of a teenager that causes them to reach a point where they’re willing to murder other children? And is this preventable?
One commonality noted by Dr. Schwartz is the choice of the school the shooter attended. And the common experience that their schools “were places of failure and, for many, of isolation, bullying, rejection, or ostracism.”
However, our solutions, thus far, focus on the speed of response by law enforcement once the shooting begins. And taking every sign of a potential threat seriously. Dr. Schwartz argues, “Finger-pointing at people with mental illness is a politically motivated distraction from the centrality of guns in mass shootings.”
Brian McLaughlin works as a mental health professional in his role as Director of Advocacy and Recovery. In an article published in 2011, he shared his personal experience dealing with his mental health diagnosis. After his diagnosis, McLaughlin recalled praying feverishly for a miracle. Years later, he concluded his condition was the miracle he needed, so he could do his work as an advocate more effectively.
Go back home, where you will find that the demon has gone out of your daughter.
Mark 7:24-30
The gospel selection listed in this week’s lectionary readings is a story about a mother born in the Syrian area of Phoenicia who asked Jesus for a miracle. Her daughter was suffering from some form of demon. Since scripture isn’t clear on the girl’s actual condition. we’re left to speculate and invited to consider the mother’s description of her daughter as a metaphor for a wide range of situations.
Perhaps her daughter was depressed. Perhaps she struggles in school, stays isolated from classmates, doesn’t have friends, or has many issues. Whatever the specifics, her situation is dire enough that her mom asks Jesus to intervene.
And, at first, Jesus refuses the woman’s request. Since Mark tells us the woman’s heritage was Syrophoenician and Jesus uses derogatory language in explaining His decision, we’re left to draw an initial conclusion of bias.
Whether Jesus’ bias is justifiable is mute. When the woman persists, Jesus changes His mind. At least, it appears this way on the surface. Since we’re unable to know fully His motivation, we’re left to consider the nature of Jesus from other interactions.
Jesus tells the mother that when she returns home, she will discover her daughter’s crisis is over.
Jones gets Keely’s attention when he muses about an 11th commandment. “I’ve always thought that if Moses’d had a little more time on the mountain, he’d have come back with eleven,” Jones tells Keely. “Number eleven would have been Thou shalt not kid thyself.”
Jones realizes Keely is dealing with some form of demon. But instead of confronting her circumstances, she tells herself lies disguised as truth. Keely’s miracle waits for another day.
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Pastor Tommy
Parts of our series are inspired by Andy Andrews. Just Jones: Sometimes a Thing Is Impossible . . . Until It Is Actually Done. Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2020.
Brian McLaughlin. “The Funny Thing About Miracles.” © Copyright, May 26, 2011. Retrieved from: link
Harold I. Schwartz. “The Mind of the Mass School Shooter.” © American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 2023. Retrieved from: link