John 13:36-38 (NRSV)

Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward."  Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now?   I will lay down my life for you."  Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?  Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

“I will lay down my life for you,” says Simon Peter.  Peter is an honest and good disciple.  He is genuine in his promise to stand by Jesus through thick and thin.  However, Jesus knows that even Peter will waiver when faced with extreme adversity.

Today is Good Friday, and our Gospel lesson from John is short.  Our focus today is on the cross and the crucifixion of our Lord.  In that context, this Gospel reading means to me that even the most devout will be challenged.  Jesus tells Peter that even though he will not be able to follow now, he will follow afterward.  Peter promises to stand by Jesus and lay down his life.  However, we know that Peter denied Jesus as Jesus predicted.  Peter denies Jesus three times.

The call that I hear today is not worry, but stand firm as we can in our path as we follow Christ.  God understands how tough it is.  Peter was bold in his faith, and was a straight shooter, always proclaiming Christ, spreading the Good News of God’s salvation.  However, when faced with adversity, Peter buckles under the pressure and denies Jesus.  What makes us think that we could do any better than Peter?  We could only hope that we would have an ounce of the faith that Peter had, and be willing to proclaim Christ when we are faced with challenge.

Mark 14:12-25 (NRSV)

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?"  So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'  He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."  So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

When it was evening, he came with the twelve.  And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me."  They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, "Surely, not I?"  He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me.  For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would have been better for that one not to have been born."  While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body."  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.  He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.  Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

“New in the Kingdom of God” is the phrase that stands out today.  I envision everything made new in the Kingdom of God.  Many argue whether the Kingdom of God is something to come upon earth or if the Kingdom of God refers to an ethereal heaven.  All I know is what scripture tells us about the Kingdom, and in this passage it would seem to refer to heaven where Jesus drinks the new wine.

This scripture passage is perfect for today which is Maundy Thursday.  This is the day that Jesus commands us to continue the practice of repeating his last supper until he comes again.  In the act of remembrance, Jesus is present with us in the breaking and sharing of the one bread and the drinking of the wine which is his body and blood.

In Mark’s Gospel story, Jesus’ last supper is set in the context of the Jewish Passover meal.  The Passover meal for the Jewish faith is a anamnesis, or a calling forward of the events when Moses led Israel out of Egypt through the Red Sea.  As believers in Jesus, we share this tradition of anamnesis, and recall Jesus’ new covenant with us in the ritual meal of bread and wine.  The promises to us are a share with Jesus in the resurrection, and an eternal life with God.  In this passage, the disciples would understand what a blood covenant is.

In the beginning of the passage, Jesus knows what the disciples will encounter when they go into the city to prepare the Passover meal.  He gives them specific directions and describes what they will find.  At the table, Jesus even predicts his betrayal from those among him.

Our call today is in the first part of the passage – in the preparation.  As we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord, we are to prepare to celebrate His feast of the new covenant.  We are called to prepare and participate with him at the meal and on the journey to the cross.

Maundy Thursday is the night when Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane after celebration the most sacred meal of the Jewish faith, a reenacted memory of God’s salvation of God’s chosen people.  The Christian commemoration of the night remembers the great feast and the arrest of Jesus and leaves us in the darkness of the garden.  For us it is a powerful calling forward of that wonderfully terrible night.

Mark 12:1-11 (NRSV)

Then he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.  When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard.  But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.  And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted.  Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed.  He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'  But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'  So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.  What then will the owner of the vineyard do?  He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.  Have you not read this scripture: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'?"

“Beloved son” is the term that stands out to me today.  We know Jesus as the only beloved Son of God.  In the parable story that Jesus tells, it is easy to place Jesus in the role of the beloved son that the tenants of the vineyard seized, killed, and threw out of the vineyard. 

Parables are succinct stories that have no historical integrity but display events so that they have an alternative meaning and a lesson to be learned.  Jesus uses parables to explain situations, and this parable of the vineyard owner is no different.  The vineyard owner has been paralleled with God, and the ones sent to collect the produce are the mighty prophets of old.  Jesus himself is the Son.  The tenants are the world and could be Israel in this case.  Jesus sites for them a psalm that they would easily recognize (Psalm 118:22-23).  The audience would immediately understand that the story Jesus is telling has a distinct meaning for what is about to happen to him.

The tenants have been given great responsibility for the vineyard, which is well equipped with a fence, a wine press, and a watchtower.  God has given us everything that we need, yet we continue to turn our backs on God, not acknowledging all the wonderful blessings.  The world has rejected and killed all the prophets of God and then reject and kill the beloved son.

The call today is not simple.  It involves understanding and accepting the responsibility to care for the creation (the vineyard) that God has provided for us.  In that, we are expected to honor and respect God’s prophets.  It also involves placing Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, at the foundation of our life so that everything else aligns with Him.

Mark 11:27-33 (NRSV)

Again they came to Jerusalem.  As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, "By what authority are you doing these things?  Who gave you this authority to do them?"  Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?  Answer me."  They argued with one another,  "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'  But shall we say, 'Of human origin'?"- they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet.  So they answered Jesus, "We do not know."  And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

“By what authority are you doing these things?”  The chief priests, elders, and scribes ask Jesus about his authority again, wanting to trick him.  The tensions are building as the religious leaders become more threatened by Jesus’ teaching.  They want him out of the way because he is gaining a following and people are beginning to believe in him.

Most of the questions from the leaders in this passage are about authority.  They ask how Jesus has authority to do the teaching, healing, and casting out demons that he is doing.  By asking the question the leaders attempt to defame Jesus, and cause the his followers to become skeptical.  As believers, we know his power is of God.  However, if Jesus were to answer, he would risk committing blasphemy according to their standards.

Jesus tells the leaders that if they will answer one question, he will tell them where his authority comes from.  If they don’t, he will not answer them.  Jesus presents them with a catch-22 situation in his question about the baptism of John.  The leaders opt not to answer.  Therefore, Jesus doesn’t reveal to them the source of his authority.  This buys him a bit more time to carry out his mission.

The call that I hear today is have faith.  Those of faith know Jesus’ authority comes from God.  Mark’s audience would realize that.  The encounter with the religious authorities is a victory for Jesus and makes the leaders appear weak.  By pleading ignorance, the leaders give Jesus a silent affirmation.  If we hold onto the faith, we are not able to be tricked by those who would rather we not believe in Jesus because it doesn’t suit their agenda.  

Mark 11:12-25 (NRSV)

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it.  When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.  Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.  He was teaching and saying, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'?  But you have made it a den of robbers.”  And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.  And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.  In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.  Then Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered."  Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.  Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.  So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."

The word that stands out today is “forgive.”  Among all the talk about fig trees and driving the money changers and merchants out of the temple, Jesus tells the disciples to forgive anything that you have against anyone.

The meaning of the cursed fig tree is strange.  It almost seems that Jesus was "cruel" and unjustly condemning.  To see a leafed fig tree, even at an unseasonable time, warranted the assumption that there would be fruit on the tree.  But this tree was an oddity; the leaves were there, but it was fruitless.  This phenomenon, therefore, served as a perfect “visual aid” for an important lesson that Jesus wanted to teach.  Jesus has talked about fruit before and the responsibility to bear good fruit (referring to the believers obligation to spread the Good News).  The fact that the fig tree did not have any fruit, and then was withered, parallels Jesus teaching about those that don’t bear any “fruit.”  This was discussed on March 7, 2012

The fig tree incident surrounds Jesus driving out the moneychangers from the temple, saying that it is a house of prayer.  The placement may have an indication of the importance of the use of money.  If money or currency is used in a manner that doesn’t give glory to God, then it is accursed.  However, if it is used to assist in the building up of the kingdom of God, to care for others, to provide for the needy, to bring about social justice, to make sure churches and temples represent the best we can offer, then we bring forth “good fruit” for the kingdom of God.

We should always use all that we have all the time to bring glory to God.  That’s the call that I hear today.  We have a responsibility as believers to express our faith by the way we live our lives.  This includes how we use our resources.  If we give a tithe (10%) to our churches, then our churches are able to operate and help society provide much needed support to those in need.  This all boils down to what is in our heart.  Do we have a thankful heart of forgiveness or do we have a selfish heart?

Luke 19:41-48 (NRSV)

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.  Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side.  They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God."  Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers."  Every day he was teaching in the temple.  The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

‘Rampart’ is the word that stands out.  I also feel that it is central to the reading.  Some people don’t know what a rampart is.  It is a fortified wall or barrier.  Jerusalem of antiquity is a fortified city with a wall around it to protect it.  Jesus has arrived at Jerusalem and the first thing he does is weep for the city and the people that he loves.  To me this is in direct contrast to the thought of “ramparts.”  I will say more about that in a bit.

Even though this isn’t the Gospel according to Mark that we have been reading through, it seems fast paced to me and gets very quickly from his arrival to him driving out the sellers from the temple.  I feel that Mark offers more detail even though Luke has the reputation for detail.

From the onset of this passage, Jesus offers a ‘prophecy’ of the destruction of the fortified city of Jerusalem.  He shows emotion, a deep sadness and weeps because the people are destroying themselves by turning away from God.  They fail to recognize that God is with them in the person of Jesus.  When he enters the temple, his sadness turns to anger and he drives out the merchants and moneychangers.  This confirms his feeling that the people are destroying themselves.

Sadness and anger are very deep human emotions.  Jesus opens up and displays these emotions, making him vulnerable to ridicule and persecution.  However, he doesn’t display them inappropriately.  He has every right to feel the way he feels.  I feel that in order to be receptive and learn we need to be open and a bit vulnerable.  The call for us today is to take down the barriers that we have put up in order to protect us from the things we fear.  We shouldn’t be afraid to be who we are and appropriately show emotion.

Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV)

They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.  When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you."  So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.  Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again."  Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Again, Jesus says “What do you want me to do for you?”  It is interesting that in the span of a few verses, the Gospeler has Jesus saying the same words.  It stands out to me again as the prominent phrase.  The blind man, Bartimaeus, answers directly that he wants his sight back.

Jesus and the crowd are on their way out of Jericho on their way to Jerusalem when they encounter Bartimaeus, a blind beggar.  This time the man that hey come across has a name, Bartimaeus.  His name literally means, “son of Timaeus,” so it’s almost redundant to say that he is the son of Timaeus.  He must have had some significance for his name to be mentioned.  The scriptures don't often reveal the names of the people Jesus heals.

Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus for mercy and is heard by the crowd passing by.  He acknowledges Jesus by his birthright as a descendant of the great King David.  Jesus sends for Bartimaeus and the disciples retrieve him.  Bartimaeus leaves the security of his cloak and goes to Jesus.  Jesus asks Bartimaeus “what do you want me to do for you?”  He doesn’t lift a finger (unlike before) and tells the man that his faith has made him well.  Bartimaeus immediately follows Jesus on the way to Jerusalem.

When we get to the low points in our lives, it’s then that realize that we so desperately need God.  Bartimaeus realizes that he needs the healing power of God in Jesus to regain his eyesight.  His condition has caused him not to be able to function normally in society so he is forced to beg for a living on the outskirts of town.  Jesus restores him to society without any effort but a word.  We are called today to understand that we need God always; in the good times and the bad.  When we are “with God” we have a full, rich, and fulfilling life regardless of our handicaps.  Bartimaeus realized that he continued to need God after he regained his eyesight, because even after he was healed, he followed Jesus on the way.

Mark 10:32-45 (NRSV)

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again."  James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."  And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?"  And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory."  But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"  They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."  When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John.  So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.  But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.  For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Jesus asks, “what is it you want me to do for you?”  This is the phrase that stands out and is an excellent response to anyone when you desire more clear direction.  I have personally used this phrase and it seems to stop people in their tracks, especially when they want something from you.

The scriptures have been building up to this.  Through the last few chapters of Mark, Jesus has been on his way to Jerusalem and the fate that awaits him.  Jesus knew what was ahead and so did his followers.  He was walking ahead, and those following were afraid.  Jesus shares with the disciples what they already know to be true.  James and John are worried about who is to take over once Jesus is killed.

Nothing infuriates an organization worse than a power vacuum.  Jesus sets it straight, saying that there is no use arguing over who “sits at the right hand” because it already belongs to who it is prepared for.  However, Jesus doesn’t say who.  Jesus then explains “servant leadership” and sacrifice.  He says that the conventional leadership as they understand it (like a tyrant over gentiles) doesn’t work in the kingdom of God.  Roles and expectations are not what we expect to see.

Jesus explains that a leader who “serves” others was not the norm in society (and it’s not the norm today).  And sacrificial actions were considered a display of weakness.  The call that I hear today is to model Jesus’ “servant leadership.”   Be a servant leader and seek to serve other and be among those who serve.  Lead from within and make sacrifices of yourself to behalf others.

Mark 10:17-31 (NRSV)

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.  You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'"  He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth."  Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."  When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.  Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"  And the disciples were perplexed at these words.  But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."  They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?"  Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."  Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."  Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

A man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  This earnest question is on the heart of all believers.  Today, Jesus offers the man and us a direct answer.  However, like the man, we may not like what Jesus is saying at first.  This scripture passage was also delt with on 2/5/2012.

The concept of wealth is a serious matter, especially in our capitalistic society where money is the scorecard by which people are measured.  It is almost as if society says, “he who dies with the most toys, wins!”  Jesus gives us a different opportunity to follow in a way that frees us from the bounds of society’s fixation on money.  He says that one must not be bounded by or governed by money.  The man in the scripture goes away grieving.  I wonder if the man sold his possessions.

If we sell everything we have, are we guaranteed salvation or eternal life?  I’m not sure that Jesus intends for us to live in poverty.  However, some have embraced this manner of life.  Having resources and money (like anything else) are hindrances to our salvation if we let their importance come between us and God.  Jesus wants us to understand this, emphatically.

Jesus uses hyperbole again, as he explains that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.  This is a ridiculous comparison, but makes the point.  He contrast this impossible feat by setting up the relationship that “for God, all things are possible.”  Jesus says that the believers will receive their reward now and in eternal life.

The call that I hear today is for us to be responsible with what God has entrusted to us.  We, as holders of the resources, should be diligent about building up the kingdom of God and using our wealth and resources to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Mark 10:1-16 (NRSV)

He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them.  Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"  He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"  They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her."  But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you.  But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."  Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.  He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."  People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them.  But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.  Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it."  And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

The disciples spoke sternly to the children.  This initially stands out at me.  It makes me initially think that the disciples don’t like children, but after thinking about it, I feel they were just worried about Jesus being bogged down with all the attention he was getting.

This passage is full of Jesus’ teaching the crowds that had gathered.  A portion of this passage is found on 2/5/2012.  The Pharisees are at it again, testing him by asking questions about the law of Moses.  These questions are about divorce and the legalities thereof.  Jesus says that Moses gave them the law of divorce because their hearts were hardened, and explains the intent of the law.  He clarifies the intent of the law and relationship between the man and woman becoming one flesh.

The scripture says that people were bringing children to him in order for him to lay hands on them and bless them.  When the disciples spoke sternly, Jesus rebuked them saying that the children should come to him.  He uses this situation to explain more about the kingdom of God, saying that one must receive the kingdom like a little child.

Little children have a naiveté, vulnerability and a willingness to listen and receive.  Jesus doesn’t say that one must receive on “blind faith” or be uninformed.  I think that we must make ourselves vulnerable and willing to receive, taking the promises of God on faith.  There lies the call in today’s passage.  We are called today to be vulnerable and willing to receive the kingdom of God, thus making ourselves available to God as little children.  (there is a deeper reflection concerning children on Feb 5th)

Mark 9:42-50 (NRSV)

"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.  If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.  And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.  And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.  "For everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

How can you season salt?  Jesus poses many statements and questions for us to ponder today.  He uses statements of exaggeration (or hyperbole) to get his point across.  This is not strange for Jesus, as he speaks this way often.

Jesus begins with the image of a great millstone hung around the neck of one who causes a new believer to stumble.  That one is then thrown into the sea.  Jesus doesn’t say this in a literal way.  He says, “it would be better…  if…” using this as a point of comparison and setting up a completely undesirable alternative.  He does the same thing with the cutting off body parts that cause you the “stumble.”  Jesus is not insinuating that he wants us to be cripple, but wants us to pay attention and be aware of our shortcomings and continue to strive to improve our relationship with God.

This scripture finishes with the image of salt.  Jesus says salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness it is no good to anyone.  The irony here is that salt cannot lose its saltiness.  This is where I feel the call for today is.  Jesus says, “have salt in yourselves.”  If we have salt in ourselves, then I feel that we are being who and what we are at our core…  good.  Salt is a preservative...  The we are to preserve the good.  God has created us in God’s image, and God don’t make no junk.  God’s image is good and everything that God creates is good (look at Genesis 1).  Our call is to remain salty (good), and let God continue to work the good within us.

John 1:9-14 (NRSV)

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.  He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary (transferred from 3/25).  The Gospel appointed for the Daily Office is part of the prologue of John.  I’m not sure why this scripture was chosen to mark this event.  The phrase that stands out is, “the world did not know him.”

This portion of the prologue almost acts as a summary of who Jesus is and what happened to him.  Very simply, Jesus was the “true light” that enlightens everyone.  He is God (world came into being through him).  His own people didn’t accept him (ridiculed and criticized by the Pharisees and Scribes of the Jewish faith).  Those who believed and received him were born of God by his power (Holy Baptism).  He shows forth the glory of God, full of grace and truth.

The call today is “know him.”  If we know Jesus, and we are born of God, we can become children of God.  Therefore, in that context, we are heirs that have a share in the resurrection.  We are to “know Jesus.”  But not only to know Jesus, we are to make him known.

John 8:46-59 (NRSV)

Which of you convicts me of sin?  If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?  Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God."  The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?"  Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.  Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and he is the judge.  Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death."  The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, 'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.'  Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?"  Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, 'He is our God,' though you do not know him. But I know him; if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word.  Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad."  Then the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"  Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am."  So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Again, we leave our weekly progression through Mark and we take a detour into the Gospel according to John.  Today we are faced with Jesus being confronted again by the “Jews” who wish to convict him of blasphemy.  The daily lectionary repeats the exact reading that we heard on February 11, 2012; give or take a verse.  The idea that gets my attention today is that they call Jesus a Samaritan, which is ironic because Samaritans do not believe in the resurrection (and Jesus rises from the dead).

The questions continue about the identity of Jesus, and about where his power and abilities come from.  They have now come to the conclusion that Jesus must have a demon.  Jesus tries to explain that his abilities and his glory comes only from God, and that God is the source of all and the judge of all.  Jesus tries to explain his connection to God by telling them that he was before Abraham.

The call that I hear today is “be a keeper of the Word.”  Jesus says that whoever keeps his word will never taste death.  Therefore, everlasting life is the reward of being a “keeper of the Word.”  How do we keep the Word of God, which we know to be Jesus the Christ?  We keep him in faith and practice.  We keep him in trust for others.  To be keepers of the word, we need to be a sharer of the word.  In order to do this, I suggest that we live as St. Francis suggested, “preach the Gospel at all times.  When necessary, use words!”

Mark 9:14-29 (NRSV)

When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.  When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him.  He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?"  Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 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."  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."  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.  Jesus asked the father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood.  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."  Jesus said to him, "If you are able!  All things can be done for the one who believes."  Immediately the father of the child cried out, "I believe; help my unbelief!"  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!"  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."  But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand.   When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"  He said to them, "This kind can come out only through prayer."

 

The father of the possessed boy says, “I believe; help my unbelief!”  This passage takes place immediately after Jesus, Peter, James, and John come down from the mountain where Jesus was transfigured before them.  They return to the disciples who are trying to cast a demon out of a boy.  However, the disciples are not able to exorcise the demon.

This passage shows the abilities of disciples who are trying to act out their faith.  Obviously, it is a problem for them.  Jesus seems frustrated with what he calls a “faithless generation.”  I don’ t think Jesus says this to belittle them, but to set them straight on their actions.  I have a feeling that they were trying to reenact the miraculous “dog and pony” show that the people are always asking for – what they think proves the power of God.  Their “actions” didn’t work because they were not backed by prayer.

Of course, Jesus is able to easily restore the boy to perfect health by casting out the demon.  It looks like he does this prior to the arrival of the crowd.  This would be exactly what we would expect of Jesus at this point, trying not to draw too much more attention to himself.

The call that I hear today is pray.  Prayer builds and guides belief.  A healthy prayer life becomes a centering force that strengthens you and guides your actions.  Prayer becomes a part of everything that you do as you seek to be closer to God.  We would just pour out our heart and mind and make ourselves vulnerable to God.  In prayer we make ourselves a receiver for the divine word that may come to us.

Mark 9:2-13 (NRSV)

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.  And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.  Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."  He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.  Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!"  Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.  As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.  So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.  Then they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"  He said to them, "Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things.  How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt?  But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him."

The phrase, “apart, by themselves” jumps out at me today.  If there was any doubt who Jesus is to Peter, James, and John, there isn’t any longer.  They go up the mountain with Jesus and had an incredible experience of him being changed and he glowed a dazzling white.

The three chosen (Peter, James, and John) were the closest and trusted disciples to Jesus.  Jesus often took them off apart from the others, by themselves.  This time it is up a high mountain.  On the mountain they see Jesus transfigured and talking with Moses and Elijah, the two greatest prophets.  They are scared and confused about what this might mean.  Peter decided that it may be good to capture the moment and build a shelter (a tabernacle or tent) for each of them – he didn’t know what else to do.  They also hear the voice from say, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”  On the way down the mountain, Jesus lets them know that it is still too soon to reveal what they experienced.  They can only tell what they know after Jesus rises from the dead. 

There is then a discussion about the primacy of Elijah, whom the people rejected.  This is what the Scribes believe.  There is a prophecy in Malachi 4:5 of the coming of Elias; of one that goes under that name, not necessarily of Elias the Tishbite, in person, but of one that was to come in his power and spirit, and restore all things.  Jesus says that he has.  In this passage there seems to be a parallel between John the Baptist and Elijah (who some people thought was Elijah who came back).

The call that I hear today is in the context of being a witness to the transfiguration of Jesus.  The call is to be transfigured ourselves.  We are changed when we accept and follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.  The old is made new, and we are a new creation, re-created in the image of Christ as we follow and learn to be better disciples.

Mark 8:27-9:1 (NRSV)

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"  And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."  He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."  And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.  Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.  He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan!  For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."  He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.  For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?  Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?  Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."  And he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power."

What stands out today is that Jesus calls Peter, “Satan!”  This is as if to say to Peter – if you try to stop what I must do to save the world from eternal damnation (or distance from God), then you are no better than the evil one (or the deceiver) that wants to destroy the world (separate it from God).

This passage, like the parallel in Luke 9:18-27 discussed on 2/19/2012, is Jesus soliciting 3rd party information about his perceived identity.  As we all know, we should be careful with 3rd party information.  Unsolicited, it can be a dangerous tool for triangulation and bad communication.  Unidentified, it can be destructive to all parties as it tears down the trust between them.  Jesus is very careful and talks “quite openly.”

Jesus instructs the disciple not to tell anyone about who he is.  I feel that this is because it will push Jesus’ inevitable demise up the timeline to a point that he is not able complete the work he needs to do.  If Jesus is arrested and killed early, then he is not able to fulfill the mission.

I feel that the call today is be to be bold in faith.  Jesus cautions and tells the disciples (and us) that it will not be easy to follow his teaching.  I feel that anything worth having is not ever easy to get.  A life united with God, and seeing the Kingdom come to fruition, is our eternal reward for following in the difficult way of Jesus.  Some think it is “stylish” to be agnostic or even deny Christ for social reasons.  I think that this is worse behavior than trying to follow him and falling short sometimes.  If we are bold in faith and have good intention to please God, then I think God recognizes it and is indeed pleased.

Mark 8:11-26 (NRSV)

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him.  And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation."  And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.  Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.  And he cautioned them, saying, "Watch out beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."  They said to one another, "It is because we have no bread."  And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why are you talking about having no bread?  Do you still not perceive or understand?  Are your hearts hardened?  Do you have eyes, and fail to see?  Do you have ears, and fail to hear?  And do you not remember?  When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?"  They said to him, "Twelve."  "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?" And they said to him, "Seven."  Then he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"  They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.  He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Can you see anything?"  And the man looked up and said, "I can see people, but they look like trees, walking."  Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  Then he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even go into the village.”

The phrase that jumps out today is when Jesus says, “Why does this generation ask for a sign?  Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”  A few days ago, I made a remark about the Pharisees and Scribes wanting Jesus to perform a “dog and pony” show to prove that he is who he says he is.  People seem to want to be entertained by the wondrous power and works of God.

Today, the Pharisees confront Jesus to test him and ask for a sign.  He doesn’t give them one and goes from that place and gets into a boat with the twelve.  They didn’t bring with them any bread with them in the boat and that spawns a conversation about bread.  Jesus cautions them about the influence of Herod and the Pharisees and calls it “yeast.”

Yeast causes bread to “rise.”  The Pharisees and Herod were rising up against Jesus and trying to influence others not to believe in him and what he taught.  The disciples still don’t understand.  Jesus then explains that the answer is in plain sight by their experience of the feeding of the 5000 and 4000.  They gathered leftovers, proving that the true word which comes from him is the true bread which gives life to the world.  When they arrive in Bethsaida, Jesus heals a blind man and makes him see clearly.  I still don’t think the disciples are seeing very clearly.

The call that I hear today is to pay attention what is plain sight.  To let Jesus bring us into focus, so we can see the whole forest, and not just concentrate on the trees.  We wonder around sometimes with tunnel vision, unable to see what God is trying to do around us.  If we focus on the big picture, we can get a better vision of where Jesus might be leading us.

Mark 8:1-10 (NRSV)

In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, "I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.  If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way and some of them have come from a great distance."  His disciples replied, "How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?"  He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"  They said, "Seven."  Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd.  They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed.  They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.  Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.  And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

The forefront of the passage for me is “They ate and were filled.”  Just last Thursday we experienced the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5000+ with five loaves and 2 fish at the end of the 6th chapter of Mark.   And now, in Chapter 8, Jesus has done it again…  feeding over 4000+ with just seven loaves and 3 fish.  The fact that everyone ate and was filled stands out.

Large crowds continue to follow Jesus everywhere he goes.  They have been with him for 3 days and have nothing to eat.  It seems that they would have remembered the previous account, and not wondered how it is possible that Jesus is able to feed them.  Again, Jesus takes what is available, 7 loaves and 3 fish, blesses, breaks, and distributes the food to the crowd.  Everyone ate and was filled.  7 baskets of left overs were taken up.

The feeding stories have layers of meaning to include Jesus’ ability to provide what you need from what you bring him.  In both cases, everything they had was given to Jesus.  In this case, a mere seven loaves of bread.  These were most likely small barley loaves (simple bread of those that are not wealthy), which makes the miracle that much more miraculous.  The other thing that means something in the context of the story is the location.  The desert and the wilderness is a place of demons and evil.  The wildness of the woods was outside the safety of the city and not a place people went.  One only went into the wilderness for necessary reasons.  The fact that Jesus retreated there and people followed tells us what kind of magnet draw he had on them.

I understand the call today as “be filled.”  We should be filled with what God provides for us.  We trust and give and love and share and provide to one another.  In that, God fills us, physically, mentally, and spiritually, as we seek to serve God.  In the wildernesses of our lives, God is there with us, helping us and directing us, feeding us, and getting us through.