For
Sunday, September 23, 2018, 18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, Readings: Proverbs 31:20-31, Psalm 1, James 3:13-4:3;
7-8a;
Mark 9:30-37
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the
teaching of kindness is on her tongue. [Proverbs 31:26]
For the LORD knows the way of the
righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed. [Ps 1:6]
But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth...But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy...And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. [James 3:14, 17-18]
...for [Jesus] was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him...Then they came to Capernaum; and...on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. [Jesus]...said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he...said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." [Mark 9:31-32, 33a, 34b, 35b, 37]
The measure of an
ideal spouse in our Proverbs reading makes for a compelling and overwhelming portrait
of perfection. While attempting to achieve the level of greatness implied, in
purely human terms, some allowances might be made for those falling a bit short
of the mark as described. The Psalmist compares the actions that make for the happy righteous and the doomed wicked, reminding us that the Lord
knows both. And James charts the course of attitudes and behaviors reflecting
earthly and inwardly unmet cravings against those who find their
path in the wisdom, peace, and gentleness from above. But Jesus is working to
prepare the disciples, again, for all that is to come, and, again, they do not
understand.
As the writer of Mark tells us, the chosen
disciples were those closest and most committed to Jesus. Yet, close as they were, they were still
afraid to ask Jesus to explain what he meant about being betrayed and killed
and rising from the dead. But, on the way to Capernaum, they were arguing with
each other about which one of themselves was the greatest of them
all. Perhaps they were confused about and so ignored the hard truth Jesus
was giving because it was too difficult to digest and discuss.
In a culture, such as
ours in the west, that teaches that one must strive to thrive through success,
achievement, wealth, power, and position, it is exceedingly difficult to avoid
the traps of envy, ambition, conflict, distrust, and so on. Fear of asking
questions is also prevalent ~ one learns early in school to be fearful of being
labeled stupid if one asks a
seemingly dumb question. Surely one only wants to ask the
"right questions" and not give too much information away to those
with whom one competes. Perhaps each of the disciples were worried that they
would ask the wrong question and fail a test of sorts. Or perhaps they were unable
to determine the right question. James references that as well by telling us
that if we didn’t get what we asked for, it was because we asked wrongly.
The Psalmist and the
writer of James also bring being righteous into our instruction. It is one of
those words we hear often from the Bible readings ~ we can guess by its sound
that it means to be "right" with God and in truth it does mean that,
to lead a life that is pleasing to God, someone whose actions God [who knows] would find to be justified and ethical. We are told very
specifically what happens to those who sit in the seats of the
scornful [Ps 1:1] and are boastful and false to the truth [James 3:14b]. And now Jesus gives the disciples, and us, the terms of a
righteous life: Be last not first, a servant of all, and those who welcome in
the name of Jesus will be welcoming God into their midst, thereby drawing
themselves near to God who will in turn draw nearer to them. As followers
of Jesus we are to commit to selfless service, especially among those who make
no return; humility in shedding all trace of inward and outward aspiration to
greatness; and we must submit ourselves
to God. The height and breadth and
depth of all that is required is nearly as staggering as the portrait in Proverbs
at first glance. But, the disciples were together in the best and worst of
times as we are in our communities of faith, working together, learning to
understand, committing and submitting ourselves to Christ for the life of our eternal
souls. How will we measure up? As we draw near to God, God will draw nearer to
thee and me.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader:
~ God Almighty, refresh
our souls to keep us from envy and selfish ambition, able to resist earthly temptation,
and willing to yield our
hearts and minds to Your Divine Wisdom.
Knowing
Lord
RESPONSE: Draw us near to You
~ God Almighty, embolden
us to stand together in Christ’s
name as we strive to ensure ethical and principled, just and merciful governing
by the leaders of our World, our Nation, and our Community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Knowing
Lord
Draw us near to You
~
God Almighty, grant hope to all who
suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and energy to all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for
those in need…
Knowing
Lord
Draw us near to You
~ God Almighty, shine Your perfect light into the darkness
of grief, as You gather those newly departed from this life, into the gleaming
expanse of eternal life with You. We
pray especially for:
Knowing
Lord
Draw us near to You
~ God
Almighty, we pause in this moment to
offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and
memorials, aloud or silently…
Knowing
Lord
Draw us near to You
~ God Almighty, quicken the minds and lighten the steps
of all who share Your wisdom with us and delight with us in Your law, as together
we sow the seeds that bear the good fruit for a harvest of righteousness and
peace. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
Knowing
Lord
Draw us near to You
The
Celebrant adds: O Lord our God, release us from the grip of mortal pride and temporal lures to be Christ’s
selfless, humble, and welcoming servants of all. Let us seek to do the work You
have given us to do, not for our own greatness, but the greatness of Your Eternal
Kingdom. We ask through the glory and sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus,
and the wise counsel of the Spirit Most Holy, who together with You, are One,
boundless, and eternal God, forever and ever. Amen.
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