Mark 10:2-16
2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.
4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.
] 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’[c] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
“Let’s Talk About Marriage”
In dealing with the sticky question of marriage and divorce Jesus goes back to the original intent of marriage as recorded in Gen., 2, before the fall into sin of Gen. 3, and reminds us that it all started out good. God created all and it was good.
The question of the Pharisees probably was loaded. (Most questions of the self-righteous are!) An attempt to trap this liberal in his own words.
But Jesus traps them. They wanted to talk about rights and advantages as under the law,
Jesus reminds them of the responsibilities which follow on those rights and advantages.
They wanted to talk about divorce, Jesus confronts them with the real issue - marriage.
Marriage is a holy estate ordained by God and to be held in honor by all.
It is hard work. It takes effort, skill, and even training.
It gives energy to life, for as Dr. Eugene Kennedy says, it is to “give life to each other.”
The real question is not, “Is divorce lawful?”
The real question is, “Is marriage life giving?”
Catholic priest: “:There is one thing worse then divorce; and that is a loveless marriage.”
“Like A Child”
To be child like is to be open, willing, receptive.
A child like faith knows a dependable confidence and assurance in the midst of life’s insecurities. It dares to ask questions and live with a certain creative mystery in the presence of a loving God. It trusts where there is no other way and rests in the love which is beyond human understanding.
It usually isn’t difficult for a child to accept a gift - it is a natural response, often with joy. The child doesn’t think about deserving the gift; the child just accepts the gift.
The Kingdom of God is ours as a gift - all we have to do is accept it.
Faith is accepting the gift of God’s Kingdom, openly, freely, confidently, joyfully.
A child also has a great capacity to trust. When we trust we believe the offer of a gift, and accept the gift without thought to why or how or why me? The gift doesn’t depend on me. It is freely given out of love; like a child I can accept it, in love.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Sunday, September 20, 2015
September 27, 2015, 17th Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 9:38-50
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the worms that eat them do not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” “
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us”
First a seeming contradiction: cf Mt. 12:30 “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.”
Look to the context in which both words are spoken. Is Jesus not saying the same thing?
And what is Jesus saying? - “No one can bottle God up and keep God contained. God manifests himself in unexpected places and people; God’s spirit blows where it will and we know not where it comes from or where it goes.”
Any effort on our part to try contain God is futile. God is with those who know not God as well as those who claim to be for God. In fact, they may well be some of God’s best servants!
This is part of the mystery and miracle of God’s spirit at work in our world. We can be astonished by the irregularity of God. It is not ours to judge others; it is ours to recognize the love of Jesus at work where ever it happens in whom ever it comes.
Our idolatry may well be our blindness to this truth.
For example, a Christian leader of a large denomination saying: “God does not hear Jewish prayers, because they don’t pray in the name of Jesus.”
The one thing which becomes clear as we struggle with these words is that it is not ours to determine who is in and who is out. It is ours to be open to the many ways in which something of Jesus is hidden “in, under, and with” the most surprising places and people.
Ours is not to exclude anyone from being a part of God’s Kingdom or even try to test who is a true believer. Ours is to be open to God working in the strangest ways and the strangest people to do something of his thing - which is always something of love breaking out in our world of hate, pride and greed.
We are not to loose our saltiness - become complacent or indifferent; live our own wasted existence with no love at work in our lives. We are to affirm God’s love at work where ever, how ever, and in whom ever it appears.
Those who are against Jesus are those who would rather have it than share it, keep it than give it away, find it than lose it. Who would rather be secure, comfortable, and safe, rather than in danger, want or risk. And this is all of us who profess to love Jesus yet so easily forget that we have been blessed by grace so we can be a blessing.
When we lose sight of our call to discipleship, servant hood, and compassion, we loose the essence (the salt) of our life in Christ - which is worse then loosing a hand, foot or eye for then we are of little good to God no matter how religious we are.
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the worms that eat them do not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” “
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us”
First a seeming contradiction: cf Mt. 12:30 “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.”
Look to the context in which both words are spoken. Is Jesus not saying the same thing?
And what is Jesus saying? - “No one can bottle God up and keep God contained. God manifests himself in unexpected places and people; God’s spirit blows where it will and we know not where it comes from or where it goes.”
Any effort on our part to try contain God is futile. God is with those who know not God as well as those who claim to be for God. In fact, they may well be some of God’s best servants!
This is part of the mystery and miracle of God’s spirit at work in our world. We can be astonished by the irregularity of God. It is not ours to judge others; it is ours to recognize the love of Jesus at work where ever it happens in whom ever it comes.
Our idolatry may well be our blindness to this truth.
For example, a Christian leader of a large denomination saying: “God does not hear Jewish prayers, because they don’t pray in the name of Jesus.”
The one thing which becomes clear as we struggle with these words is that it is not ours to determine who is in and who is out. It is ours to be open to the many ways in which something of Jesus is hidden “in, under, and with” the most surprising places and people.
Ours is not to exclude anyone from being a part of God’s Kingdom or even try to test who is a true believer. Ours is to be open to God working in the strangest ways and the strangest people to do something of his thing - which is always something of love breaking out in our world of hate, pride and greed.
We are not to loose our saltiness - become complacent or indifferent; live our own wasted existence with no love at work in our lives. We are to affirm God’s love at work where ever, how ever, and in whom ever it appears.
Those who are against Jesus are those who would rather have it than share it, keep it than give it away, find it than lose it. Who would rather be secure, comfortable, and safe, rather than in danger, want or risk. And this is all of us who profess to love Jesus yet so easily forget that we have been blessed by grace so we can be a blessing.
When we lose sight of our call to discipleship, servant hood, and compassion, we loose the essence (the salt) of our life in Christ - which is worse then loosing a hand, foot or eye for then we are of little good to God no matter how religious we are.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
September 20, 2015 17h Sunday After Pentecost
Mark 9:30-37
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
“Be The Servant Of All”
It isn’t always easy to be a servant of God. It wasn’t for Jeremiah, the disciples, nor those to whom James wrote. It didn’t come naturally for them nor does it for us. It is almost contrary to our basic nature - self-preservation; taking care of #1.
It is easier to condemn and judge than to serve.
We never know enough about God to pronounce judgment on another person.
Our task as servants is to work and pray for forgiveness, understanding, reconciliation, peace. And to learn to appreciate differentness.
To be a servant is to place oneself last and not worry about what I am going to get out of it.
It is to be like Jesus who “did not regard equality with God something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” (Phil. 2:6,7)
“Celebrity Or Servant”
“Two centuries ago when a great man appeared, people looked for God’s purpose in him; today we look for his press agent.”
“We can make a celebrity, but we can never make a hero.”
“We loose sight of the men and women who do not simply seem great because they are famous but who are famous because they are great.”
The hero was distinguished by his achievement; the celebrity by his image or trademark.
The hero created himself; the celebrity is created by the media. The hero was a big man; the celebrity is a big name.”
“A celebrity is a person who is known for his well-knownness. He is the human psedo-event.”
Quotes from Daniel Boorstien’ “IMAGE”, pp. 45-76
Chapter “From Hero to Celebrity: the Human Pseudo-Event”
We all have a desire hidden within us to be a celebrity. We would like to do our thing in a big way. Yet it is as a servant that we have been called, to do our thing in a small way, often unnoticed but by God, and maybe those who are on the receiving end of our serving.
We are called to be servants and to get lost in doing good, without keeping score.
To be a servant is to place oneself last and not worry about what I am going to get out of it.
It is to be like Jesus who did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.
This is how it is in the Kingdom of Heaven!
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Sept. 13, 2015 16th Sunday after Pentecost
Mark 9:14-29
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16 He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so." 19 He answered them, "You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me." 20 And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22 It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!" 26 After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. 28 When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 He said to them, "This kind can come out only through prayer.”
I have no record of ever having preached on this text. Ether I was not scheduled to preach on the Sundays it came up, or it never was used. Which ever, I find it a bit amusing as it contains one of my favorite confessions, the farther of the boy who says honestly, out of the depths of his heart, “I believe; help mine unbelief!”
It’s like it is too much to swallow so fast yet it is so vital to his deepest needs that he lets Jesus know that he does have faith, even though he still has questions.
Don’t we all!
Faith is always accompanied by doubt, questioning, wondering, speculating, even uncertainty.
I think this is the most honest expression of faith in the New Testament! Listen to these words from Ellie Wiesel, who lived through the fanaticism of the Holocaust born of the blind belief in the superiority of the Arian race.
“I turn away from persons who declare that they know better than anyone else the only true road to God....My experience is that the fanatic hides from true debate...He is afraid of pluralism and diversity; he abhors learning. He knows how to speak in monologues only...The fanatic never rests and never quits; the more he conquers, the more he seeks new conquests....A fanatic has answers, not questions; certainties, not hesitations,(and ) as the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche expressed it, (it’s) ‘Madness is the result not of uncertainty but certainty’.”
Parade Magazine, April 19,1992
A second observation I would make of this text has to do with Jesus last statement, “This kind can come out only through prayer.” Yet it doesn’t say Jesus prayer as he healed him.
What does Jesus mean?
Could it be - (and this is a speculation based on years of struggling with prayers which didn’t seem to make any difference . i.e.lots of faith healing on TV which often raised havoc with the individual involved) - is it possible that by prayer Jesus means being in touch with God so deeply and intimately, as he was, that things happen which otherwise would never happen?
If this is close to what is hidden in these words, we need to keep prayer at the center of our lives but not at the center of our actions. Jesus often when away alone to pray. His disciples
had to ask him to teach them to pray. Prayer is not a religious action by which we let others know how religious we are. It is a secret action in which we draw strength to be compassionate as our heavenly Father is compassionate.
Something to wonder about as we wander out under the stars.
“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith, it is an element of faith”
Paul Tillich, 20 Century Theologian
14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16 He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so." 19 He answered them, "You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me." 20 And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22 It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!" 26 After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. 28 When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 He said to them, "This kind can come out only through prayer.”
I have no record of ever having preached on this text. Ether I was not scheduled to preach on the Sundays it came up, or it never was used. Which ever, I find it a bit amusing as it contains one of my favorite confessions, the farther of the boy who says honestly, out of the depths of his heart, “I believe; help mine unbelief!”
It’s like it is too much to swallow so fast yet it is so vital to his deepest needs that he lets Jesus know that he does have faith, even though he still has questions.
Don’t we all!
Faith is always accompanied by doubt, questioning, wondering, speculating, even uncertainty.
I think this is the most honest expression of faith in the New Testament! Listen to these words from Ellie Wiesel, who lived through the fanaticism of the Holocaust born of the blind belief in the superiority of the Arian race.
“I turn away from persons who declare that they know better than anyone else the only true road to God....My experience is that the fanatic hides from true debate...He is afraid of pluralism and diversity; he abhors learning. He knows how to speak in monologues only...The fanatic never rests and never quits; the more he conquers, the more he seeks new conquests....A fanatic has answers, not questions; certainties, not hesitations,(and ) as the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche expressed it, (it’s) ‘Madness is the result not of uncertainty but certainty’.”
Parade Magazine, April 19,1992
A second observation I would make of this text has to do with Jesus last statement, “This kind can come out only through prayer.” Yet it doesn’t say Jesus prayer as he healed him.
What does Jesus mean?
Could it be - (and this is a speculation based on years of struggling with prayers which didn’t seem to make any difference . i.e.lots of faith healing on TV which often raised havoc with the individual involved) - is it possible that by prayer Jesus means being in touch with God so deeply and intimately, as he was, that things happen which otherwise would never happen?
If this is close to what is hidden in these words, we need to keep prayer at the center of our lives but not at the center of our actions. Jesus often when away alone to pray. His disciples
had to ask him to teach them to pray. Prayer is not a religious action by which we let others know how religious we are. It is a secret action in which we draw strength to be compassionate as our heavenly Father is compassionate.
Something to wonder about as we wander out under the stars.
“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith, it is an element of faith”
Paul Tillich, 20 Century Theologian
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