GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 10:1
Substitutes
Customs are powerful forces, often assimilated unconsciously. I sometimes wonder why I behave a certain way, and, upon reflection, I can trace the behavior to a family custom. There are words, for example, that have become acceptable in modern parlance, yet I cannot, or will not, use them. Oh, I know how to pronounce these words and understand their lexical and implied meanings, but they never appear in my thinking or speech. Why? Because using them was never part of the family custom. An acceptable example is the word concerning the evening meal, which in Southern Illinois parlance is “supper,” though many people call it “dinner.” In that usage, “dinner” refers to the noon meal, not “lunch.”
St. Mark said that Jesus left the region of Galilee and went south to the area of Judea, beyond the Jordan—a trip of about sixty miles—on his way to Jerusalem. Mark wrote, “And from there, arising, he went to the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and again crowds gathered around him, and as had been his custom, again he taught them.” (Mark 10:1) Many Jews traveled east along the Jordan River or crossed it to avoid the territory of Samaria. It appears that Jesus planned to go through Samaria. He sent his disciples to prepare for his visit, but the Samaritans refused to offer them hospitality. Consequently, Jesus went east, even crossing the Jordan River. (Luke 9:51-56)
News of Jesus’ presence likely spread throughout the region. So when he arrived, a crowd gathered around him, and, as was his custom, he taught them. Matthew said, “And he healed them there.” (Matt. 19:2)
Jesus’ teaching and healing exemplify good customs, and there are many such good customs. There are, on the other hand, customs that should be abandoned. I hope for the wisdom to discern between the two—to hold fast to the good customs and abandon the bad customs.
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