In Mark's gospel Jesus always seemed to be moving about with urgency. Even at the beginning of his ministry he was "driven" out into the desert for 40 days.

Many came to Jesus believing he would heal them, but in the midst of the crowd were some waiting to catch him crossing religious boundary lines.

It’s helpful to take a map along when you read the New Testament. Most of the time in the gospel stories, Jesus moves forward. He goes from town to town, teaching and healing and being the “repo man” for souls ensnared by dark spirits.

"It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more," the Lord says in the Book of Isaiah.

The last three Sunday gospels have spoken of healing and forgiveness, appropriately enough with Lent right around the corner. So it is a good time to think about reconciliation.

We find our way to Jesus however we can. We ask for help but not just in some passive way. We come to Jesus knowing that when our request is heard we will no longer be expected to sit around and let others wait on us.

We pray to the Lord who remembers not our sins.

It's impossible to deny that the earliest Christian witnesses saw Christ as the fulfillment of prophecy--the one whose coming Hebrew scripture had "predicted" long before--nor that the church has continued this tradition. And certainly Jesus must be seen in continuity with Israelite history.

Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'--Matthew 5:37