Mark 9:30-41
Monday, 10 March 2008
When I was a child, I used to like it when Elder Griffith, one of our associate ministers, would preach. It wasn't so much that I was moved by Eld. Griffith's homiletical skills as the fact that Elder Griffith had a way of making me feel noticed and important as a child. You see, whenever he began his sermons, in addition to "giving honor" to God, the pastor, the ministers, the saints, and the friends, he always made sure to mention the children too. Nobody else ever gave honor to the children.
Jesus has been eavesdropping on the conversation of his disciples, or more aptly reading their hearts, as they argue among themselves about who is the greatest. Their conversation is ironic since they have just experienced the embarrassment of being unable to heal the tormented young son of a man who had come to them for help. Rather than wondering how to hone their healing and exorcism skills, they are comparing themselves against one another. Jesus surprises them by presenting the lowest and least honored person in the community - a child. Most likely the disciples would never even have noticed the child in their midst if Jesus had not called their attention to him. "When you welcome the child, you welcome me."
In the kingdom of God, we should always remember that conventional wisdom is upended. The greatest is the servant. The last are first. Whoever is not against us is for us. The children are honored. This reversal of fortune was hard for the disciples to accept and remains hard for us to believe. For them, the biggest welcome should be reserved for the most important people, those who have something to offer or some perk to bestow. But if we can't honor the child, then we are unlikely to recognize the Crucified One as Lord. And if we miss the Crucified One, we cut ourselves off from the reign and glory of God. Elder Griffith had the right idea.
Sing, "I Think When I Read"
Call in prayer the names of the children in your life. Give thanks for them, and ask for the wisdom to know how to honor and welcome them and thus to welcome the kingdom of God.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Listen 7 March 2008
Mark 9:2-13
Friday, 7 March 2008
I don't even remember the product as much as I remember the commercial: "If you want to capture someone's attention, whisper." Whether one was inclined to purchase the perfume for sale or not, the tag line for the commercial stood out as it appealed to that part of each of us that wants to know how to get the important people in our lives to listen to what we have to say. We all want to experience the focus on us from time to time. And we all know just as well that there will always be other noises that threaten to distract the attention.
With each day, the intensity increases in the message of Jesus. His identity as the Messiah is established. The general contours of the coming suffering are being made known to his disciples. But there are still a lot of distractions. Just a few days after Peter's confession that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus carries his three closest followers to a mountain, away from all the competition for their attention. Imagine their astonishment as a powerful light shines out of Christ's visage. Even more astounding is the presence of the two great ancestors Moses and Elijah, embodying the Law and the Prophets. There is no question that God has their attention, but the ability of people to miss the point should never be underestimated. Peter has a bright idea for a building program. God's voice speaks and brings the focus to Jesus alone: Listen to him!
It is so easy for us to be distracted, so difficult for us to maintain focus over the long haul. We are now in the routine of Lent and therefore are poised to lose focus or to come to the wrong conclusion. Even when God does great things in our midst, we are inclined to look more at the miracle and miss the message. Pause now and quiet yourself. Don't think. Just listen. You have confessed that Jesus is the Christ the Savior of the world. Now listen to him and be saved.
Sing, "Open My Eyes that I May See"
Let us pray:
Merciful God, we thank you for the privilege of being the people whom you have called to the mountain to witness your glory. We rejoice that we have come this far and have been privy to the revelation of your identity. Help us in this waning Lenten season not to miss the message. Attune us to your voice. Grant us the grace of focus on Jesus the Christ. Amen
Friday, 7 March 2008
I don't even remember the product as much as I remember the commercial: "If you want to capture someone's attention, whisper." Whether one was inclined to purchase the perfume for sale or not, the tag line for the commercial stood out as it appealed to that part of each of us that wants to know how to get the important people in our lives to listen to what we have to say. We all want to experience the focus on us from time to time. And we all know just as well that there will always be other noises that threaten to distract the attention.
With each day, the intensity increases in the message of Jesus. His identity as the Messiah is established. The general contours of the coming suffering are being made known to his disciples. But there are still a lot of distractions. Just a few days after Peter's confession that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus carries his three closest followers to a mountain, away from all the competition for their attention. Imagine their astonishment as a powerful light shines out of Christ's visage. Even more astounding is the presence of the two great ancestors Moses and Elijah, embodying the Law and the Prophets. There is no question that God has their attention, but the ability of people to miss the point should never be underestimated. Peter has a bright idea for a building program. God's voice speaks and brings the focus to Jesus alone: Listen to him!
It is so easy for us to be distracted, so difficult for us to maintain focus over the long haul. We are now in the routine of Lent and therefore are poised to lose focus or to come to the wrong conclusion. Even when God does great things in our midst, we are inclined to look more at the miracle and miss the message. Pause now and quiet yourself. Don't think. Just listen. You have confessed that Jesus is the Christ the Savior of the world. Now listen to him and be saved.
Sing, "Open My Eyes that I May See"
Let us pray:
Merciful God, we thank you for the privilege of being the people whom you have called to the mountain to witness your glory. We rejoice that we have come this far and have been privy to the revelation of your identity. Help us in this waning Lenten season not to miss the message. Attune us to your voice. Grant us the grace of focus on Jesus the Christ. Amen
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Do you Get It? 6 March 2008
Mark 8:27-9:1
Thursday, 6 March 2008
On the airplane, I like to do the crossword puzzles in the airline's magazine. I prefer them to the puzzles in the newspaper because with the newspaper puzzles, I have to wait until the next day (or solve the whole puzzle) to see whether my guess was correct, rather than just flipping to the answer at the back of the magazine. I guess I am not known for my patience. I have to know sooner whether I got it.
As evinced in the earlier part of the chapter through the gradual healing of the blind man, Jesus is giving his disciples multiple opportunities to come to the right conclusion. The answer is before them. The question is whether they've got it or not. "Who do people say that I am?" Jesus asks. That's an easy question; one only has to repeat what one has heard. Here comes the hard ball: "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answers, "You're the Messiah." At first glance, it seems that Peter has it. Jesus begins to reveal the rest of the plan to the disciples: great suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection. At this point, Peter's certainty gets the better of him, as he takes Jesus aside to explain to him what his Messiahship does and does not mean. Peter doesn't get it after all. His mind is on the wrong thing.
Today, I get the sense that we should be careful lest we rush ahead too quickly with our answers. Like Peter, we may grasp the most significant information without understanding all of the details about what that knowledge requires of us. Just knowing who Jesus is is not enough. Following him means laying aside all of our preconceived notions and plans and taking up our cross. Suffering, rejection, and death lead to resurrection and eternal life. Do you get it?
Sing, "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone"
Let us pray:
Crucified One, it is so easy to rush forward to Easter without accounting for the suffering, rejection, and death of Good Friday. It is so easy to leap forward with the knowledge of discipleship and eternal life without responding to the call of taking up our cross. Reminds us today, Lord, that there can be no resurrection without the cross; no victory without suffering. Help us to deny ourselves and therefore to embrace and follow you. Amen.
Thursday, 6 March 2008
On the airplane, I like to do the crossword puzzles in the airline's magazine. I prefer them to the puzzles in the newspaper because with the newspaper puzzles, I have to wait until the next day (or solve the whole puzzle) to see whether my guess was correct, rather than just flipping to the answer at the back of the magazine. I guess I am not known for my patience. I have to know sooner whether I got it.
As evinced in the earlier part of the chapter through the gradual healing of the blind man, Jesus is giving his disciples multiple opportunities to come to the right conclusion. The answer is before them. The question is whether they've got it or not. "Who do people say that I am?" Jesus asks. That's an easy question; one only has to repeat what one has heard. Here comes the hard ball: "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answers, "You're the Messiah." At first glance, it seems that Peter has it. Jesus begins to reveal the rest of the plan to the disciples: great suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection. At this point, Peter's certainty gets the better of him, as he takes Jesus aside to explain to him what his Messiahship does and does not mean. Peter doesn't get it after all. His mind is on the wrong thing.
Today, I get the sense that we should be careful lest we rush ahead too quickly with our answers. Like Peter, we may grasp the most significant information without understanding all of the details about what that knowledge requires of us. Just knowing who Jesus is is not enough. Following him means laying aside all of our preconceived notions and plans and taking up our cross. Suffering, rejection, and death lead to resurrection and eternal life. Do you get it?
Sing, "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone"
Let us pray:
Crucified One, it is so easy to rush forward to Easter without accounting for the suffering, rejection, and death of Good Friday. It is so easy to leap forward with the knowledge of discipleship and eternal life without responding to the call of taking up our cross. Reminds us today, Lord, that there can be no resurrection without the cross; no victory without suffering. Help us to deny ourselves and therefore to embrace and follow you. Amen.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Taking Shape 5 March 2008
Mark 8:11-26
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Now that we are two weeks away from Holy Week, a mere 18 days from the celebration of Resurrection Day, I for one am put in mind again of all that I hoped to accomplish spiritually during the Lenten season. The end of Lent is near, but how about all of those issues and needs I placed on the altar. Is anything taking shape?
The disciples in the text are their usual clueless selves. Jesus issues a blanket warning to avoid the contaminating influcence of the Pharisees and Herod, but they think he's talking about literal yeast and fear that he is angry because they forgot to bring bread with them. After reminding them that they have recently witnessed the feeding of multitudes with little or no resources, he asks them a question "Do you still not understand?" The disciples seem to be as blind as ever.
Enter a real blind man whom Jesus touches. Can you see now? Unlike other healing stories, for this blind man, things only gradually come into focus. He sees people but they look like trees. And while seeing people looking like walking trees represents a significant improvement over not seeing anything at all, it's not as good as seeing things as they really are. How does Jesus fix things? He touches the man again. The man looks intently and his sight is restored clearly.
I can say honestly that I am glad that the Lenten season is not quite over because I feel like that blind person in the story who sees some things taking shape but not clearly. I am grateful, then, that I have time to ask Jesus to touch me again.
Sing, "He Touched Me"
Let us pray:
Dear Lord, for the gift of growing focus and clarifying sight, we give you thanks. At the same time, we confess that we, like the disciples, still suffer from chronic cluelessness. Our only recourse is to ask that you in your mercy would touch us again. Apply the salve of your Spirit and anoint our minds, hearts, and spirits. Preserve us against the errors of religious and social arrogance. Deliver us into the next season of greater awareness, in Jesus' name. Amen
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Now that we are two weeks away from Holy Week, a mere 18 days from the celebration of Resurrection Day, I for one am put in mind again of all that I hoped to accomplish spiritually during the Lenten season. The end of Lent is near, but how about all of those issues and needs I placed on the altar. Is anything taking shape?
The disciples in the text are their usual clueless selves. Jesus issues a blanket warning to avoid the contaminating influcence of the Pharisees and Herod, but they think he's talking about literal yeast and fear that he is angry because they forgot to bring bread with them. After reminding them that they have recently witnessed the feeding of multitudes with little or no resources, he asks them a question "Do you still not understand?" The disciples seem to be as blind as ever.
Enter a real blind man whom Jesus touches. Can you see now? Unlike other healing stories, for this blind man, things only gradually come into focus. He sees people but they look like trees. And while seeing people looking like walking trees represents a significant improvement over not seeing anything at all, it's not as good as seeing things as they really are. How does Jesus fix things? He touches the man again. The man looks intently and his sight is restored clearly.
I can say honestly that I am glad that the Lenten season is not quite over because I feel like that blind person in the story who sees some things taking shape but not clearly. I am grateful, then, that I have time to ask Jesus to touch me again.
Sing, "He Touched Me"
Let us pray:
Dear Lord, for the gift of growing focus and clarifying sight, we give you thanks. At the same time, we confess that we, like the disciples, still suffer from chronic cluelessness. Our only recourse is to ask that you in your mercy would touch us again. Apply the salve of your Spirit and anoint our minds, hearts, and spirits. Preserve us against the errors of religious and social arrogance. Deliver us into the next season of greater awareness, in Jesus' name. Amen
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Enough to Get Home 4 March 2008
Mark 8:1-10
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
I have been a bit under the weather the last few days, but of course my responsibilities have not diminished. I have been able to cancel or postpone a few things. For the things I absolutely could not postpone, I prayed that God would give me just enough strength to get through them.
Today's text reminds us again of the sure footing we are on when we ask for enough to get us home. Jesus has been feeding the crowds all that they can handle of the gospel message. For three days, they have dined sumptuously on his teaching, replete with miracles. The most important aspects of life are covered. Life indeed is more than food; everything that proceeds from Jesus' mouth satisfies the hungry and thirsty soul. But Jesus sees something more. His compassion extends beyond the spiritual. The people need to eat, otherwise they will not survive the journey back to their residences. What follows Jesus' astute observation is the disciples' lesson about God's abundant provision even with scarce resources. The people are seated. Jesus provides, not simply enough to get the people home but more than enough. Jesus uses the provisions and the hands of the disciples to fill up the people. Extra is left over.
As we come to the end of our resources - physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual - we have the opportunity to see Jesus' compassion and surpassing greatness in action yet again. There is no such thing as just enough in Jesus. We are ourselves, along with all of our substance and our need, in the hands and in the heart of the all sufficient one. We have cause to rejoice.
Sing "All I Need"
Let us pray:
You alone know, O Lord, where the middle of this Lenten season finds us. You know our weariness, our worry; you know how far we have come and how far we've yet to journey. Grant us a glimpse of your compassionate eyes. Seeing you, make us confident of your grace to finish the course with more than enough of what we need to make it home, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
I have been a bit under the weather the last few days, but of course my responsibilities have not diminished. I have been able to cancel or postpone a few things. For the things I absolutely could not postpone, I prayed that God would give me just enough strength to get through them.
Today's text reminds us again of the sure footing we are on when we ask for enough to get us home. Jesus has been feeding the crowds all that they can handle of the gospel message. For three days, they have dined sumptuously on his teaching, replete with miracles. The most important aspects of life are covered. Life indeed is more than food; everything that proceeds from Jesus' mouth satisfies the hungry and thirsty soul. But Jesus sees something more. His compassion extends beyond the spiritual. The people need to eat, otherwise they will not survive the journey back to their residences. What follows Jesus' astute observation is the disciples' lesson about God's abundant provision even with scarce resources. The people are seated. Jesus provides, not simply enough to get the people home but more than enough. Jesus uses the provisions and the hands of the disciples to fill up the people. Extra is left over.
As we come to the end of our resources - physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual - we have the opportunity to see Jesus' compassion and surpassing greatness in action yet again. There is no such thing as just enough in Jesus. We are ourselves, along with all of our substance and our need, in the hands and in the heart of the all sufficient one. We have cause to rejoice.
Sing "All I Need"
Let us pray:
You alone know, O Lord, where the middle of this Lenten season finds us. You know our weariness, our worry; you know how far we have come and how far we've yet to journey. Grant us a glimpse of your compassionate eyes. Seeing you, make us confident of your grace to finish the course with more than enough of what we need to make it home, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, March 3, 2008
All in the Family 3 March 2008
Mark 7:24-37
Monday, 3 March 2008
Parents are frequently asked but loath to admit whether one of their children is their favorite. Because we have a romantic and idealistic notion that goods and services, or at least love ought to be meted out indiscriminately within a family, we certainly don't want to admit that favoritism is a natural part of being human. Even within our families some relatives are our favorites and others not so much.
Today's text includes one of the most difficult scenes in all of the scriptures. Here we see Jesus initially refusing the request of a woman whose daughter is possessed by demons. No matter how many times I read the happy ending I am still made uncomfortable by the exchange. I read that Jesus is taking a respite, hiding out in Tyre (Gentile territory) away from the crowds that dog him. I see that again his efforts toward solitude are interrupted by the persistence of some needy person(s). The woman's need is real and serious. Her faith and persistence rule the day. And in the end, Jesus' own ministry expands and makes room for a larger family, large enough even for us to participate.
Like the text from Sunday regarding the man born blind, this text points us again toward the question of fairness and suffering. What I like about the gospel writers' inclusion of this scene is that it sets a standard for all of us who claim to follow Jesus. When is the last time we allowed our vision of the family to expand?
Sing, "Jesus Loves the Little Children"
Let us pray:
As always, Lord, we wish to follow your example and walk in your steps. As we consider the needs around us, we pray that you will help us to have a vision of family that includes people like ourselves and those who are radically different. Stretch us in this season, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen
Monday, 3 March 2008
Parents are frequently asked but loath to admit whether one of their children is their favorite. Because we have a romantic and idealistic notion that goods and services, or at least love ought to be meted out indiscriminately within a family, we certainly don't want to admit that favoritism is a natural part of being human. Even within our families some relatives are our favorites and others not so much.
Today's text includes one of the most difficult scenes in all of the scriptures. Here we see Jesus initially refusing the request of a woman whose daughter is possessed by demons. No matter how many times I read the happy ending I am still made uncomfortable by the exchange. I read that Jesus is taking a respite, hiding out in Tyre (Gentile territory) away from the crowds that dog him. I see that again his efforts toward solitude are interrupted by the persistence of some needy person(s). The woman's need is real and serious. Her faith and persistence rule the day. And in the end, Jesus' own ministry expands and makes room for a larger family, large enough even for us to participate.
Like the text from Sunday regarding the man born blind, this text points us again toward the question of fairness and suffering. What I like about the gospel writers' inclusion of this scene is that it sets a standard for all of us who claim to follow Jesus. When is the last time we allowed our vision of the family to expand?
Sing, "Jesus Loves the Little Children"
Let us pray:
As always, Lord, we wish to follow your example and walk in your steps. As we consider the needs around us, we pray that you will help us to have a vision of family that includes people like ourselves and those who are radically different. Stretch us in this season, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen
Sunday, March 2, 2008
The Blame Game 2 March 2008
John 9:1-41
Lent 4
Sunday, 2 March 2008
We have a need for things to make sense to us. Even when we do not agree with an idea or an outcome, it makes us feel better if we can understand the reason or logic behind it. Even when we confront the difficulties in our own lives, we feel better if we can discern some deeper meaning for our suffering and struggle. We always grasp after a reason for the bad things that happen to good people.
In this Sunday's gospel, Jesus and his disciples encounter a man who was born blind. His disciples see an opportunity to query Jesus about this most difficult issue of who to blame for the bad things that happen. Whose fault is it? Was there some discernible sin in the unborn child? Was there some parental sin? There is no reason to think that they know anything more about the man than that he was blind from birth. They have no more information than that about the man or his parents. Thus, they are really asking a larger question about the cause of suffering and misfortune. If sin is the culprit, then whose sin is it? Jesus answers, Neither the man nor his parents are to blame. He then heals the man to the glory of God.
While the healing of the man certainly glorifies God, Jesus' answer to the disciples' question leaves us without a definitive statement about why bad things happen. The truth is that life does not always make sense to us. Things are not always fair or just. Sometimes the "bad guys" seem to get away with it, and the "good guys" lose or fail. I'm not sure that asking Jesus face to face will yield the answer that we crave. So, we'll simply have to keep trusting. And I guess we will understand it better by and by.
Sing, "We'll Understand it Better By and By"
Lent 4
Sunday, 2 March 2008
We have a need for things to make sense to us. Even when we do not agree with an idea or an outcome, it makes us feel better if we can understand the reason or logic behind it. Even when we confront the difficulties in our own lives, we feel better if we can discern some deeper meaning for our suffering and struggle. We always grasp after a reason for the bad things that happen to good people.
In this Sunday's gospel, Jesus and his disciples encounter a man who was born blind. His disciples see an opportunity to query Jesus about this most difficult issue of who to blame for the bad things that happen. Whose fault is it? Was there some discernible sin in the unborn child? Was there some parental sin? There is no reason to think that they know anything more about the man than that he was blind from birth. They have no more information than that about the man or his parents. Thus, they are really asking a larger question about the cause of suffering and misfortune. If sin is the culprit, then whose sin is it? Jesus answers, Neither the man nor his parents are to blame. He then heals the man to the glory of God.
While the healing of the man certainly glorifies God, Jesus' answer to the disciples' question leaves us without a definitive statement about why bad things happen. The truth is that life does not always make sense to us. Things are not always fair or just. Sometimes the "bad guys" seem to get away with it, and the "good guys" lose or fail. I'm not sure that asking Jesus face to face will yield the answer that we crave. So, we'll simply have to keep trusting. And I guess we will understand it better by and by.
Sing, "We'll Understand it Better By and By"
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