The Scandal of the Scandal of Particularity

What the geography of the Gospels reveals of the gospel

In her book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard observes:

“That Christ’s incarnation occurred improbably, ridiculously, at such-and-such a time, into such-and-such a place, is referred to—with great sincerity even among believers—as “the scandal of particularity.” Well, the “scandal of particularity” is the only world that I, in particular, know. What use has eternity for light? We’re all up to our necks in this particular scandal.”

The Monty Python film, Life of Brian, makes the same wry point about particularity by noting that the crucifixion took place on Good Friday at Golgotha “around tea time.”

In this season of glory, I think of the scandal of particularity when I read the lectionary Gospel passage for the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany is Mark 1.29-39. At the top of the text, the evangelist reports that the disciples, having listened to Jesus teach in the synagogue, go with him to the home of Peter’s mother-in-law. While there, Jesus not only healed the old lady of a fever but many others of ailments and he notched a few exorcisms too.

The detail Mark leaves out— the scandalously particular note you need to be there to appreciate— is that from synagogue to the home of Peter’s mother-in-law Jesus and the disciples traveled about the distance of a pickle-ball court.