Titus 3:1-15 (NRSV)

Saturday after Ash Wednesday - Reflections on the Epistle Letters during Lent

"Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned. When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Make every effort to send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way, and see that they lack nothing. And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive. All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you."

The first thing that jumps out at me is the phrase "have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions." I am distraught by those who want to break apart the body of Christ. I am heartbroken over folks who say, "I have no need of you because you... don't think like I do... or worship like I do... or read scripture like I do." Those that are causing divisions or schisms in the community over things that none of us understand. 

The letter of Paul to Titus seems like a lot of behavioral instructions, almost seeming to say, "make sure you walk the walk" not just "talk the talk." If we are worried about how we are walking the walk then the stupid controversies and quarrels about the law are no longer a reason for schism. If we are worried about devoting ourselves to good works (in response to the grace and salvation that we have received in Jesus through water and rebirth) then there is no time for condemning each other. We are in a relationship with each other because we occupying the same planet, so I'm not sure the phrase means literally have nothing to do with them, but rather do not let them affect your faith. 

In this passage, I feel that we are called to unity in Christ Jesus. To be the hands and feet of the body of Christ... I feel that we are called to the action of being ambassadors for Christ in the way we live our lives... the way that we walk the walk.

Mark 3:19b-35 (NRSV)

Then [Jesus] went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat.  When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, 'He has gone out of his mind.'  And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.'  And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, 'How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.  And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come.  But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

'Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin' for they had said, 'He has an unclean spirit.'

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him.  A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, 'Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.'  And he replied, 'Who are my mother and my brothers?'  And looking at those who sat around him, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers!  Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.'

This passage takes the story in an unusual direction after the appointment of the twelve.  The phrase that stands out to me today is, “a house divided against itself will not be able to stand.”   Jesus is faced with accusers saying that he has a demon.  He said to them, “How can Satan cast out Satan?”

In this passage, Jesus goes home and confronts accusers there who say that he has a demon.  Some think he is out of his mind and possessed.  Jesus teaches them in a parable, saying that the kingdom cannot stand if divided against itself.  He also relates it to plunder a strong man’s house…  that one must first tie him up.  Jesus goes from talking about a kingdom divided to the forgiveness of sins and blasphemies, saying that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness.  He said this because they said he had an unclean spirit.

Then, he abruptly goes from there to define who his mother, brothers, and sisters are.  Jesus says that the ones with him are his mother and brothers and sisters, and whoever does the will of God is his brother and sister and mother.  This is also the first time in Mark's Gospel that indicates Jesus has kin (mother and brothers and sisters).

The call today for me is unity.  It came to me from his explanation of a house divided.  If we, as disciples and children of God, are in union with each other, then anything is possible.  Unity is strength and power; Unity is wisdom and influence.  Without unity and a shared mission, we are divided, and we will fall.