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The Gospel: Mark 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus 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.” Prayer: Lord, you have promised that when two or three gather in your name you will be present with them. We depend on that promise today and pray that you will move among us. Lord, we pray that have you inspired Mike's preparation, that you will enliven his presentation and that you will empower our application. Amen The Message: If you have been coming to Christ Church for any amount of time you will realize that I speak about and encourage us all to consider grace as a central attitude and expression of our understanding of Christ's love for us and our love for others. Shortly after I arrived you would have noticed that I added the tagline "A Place of Grace" to our signage. I began to speak and teach about grace regularly in our Weekly Update and my Sermons each Sunday morning. I realized this week that I have talked a lot about grace in many and various ways. But I am not sure if I have ever given us all a succinct definition of grace. So today I am going to do that. The dictionary provides three definitions with three ways to understand grace in society. These are: 1. simple elegance or refinement of movement. 2. courteous goodwill. 3. do honor or credit to (someone or something) by one's presence. Now those are helpful. But what we, as followers of Christ are interested in is a theological understanding of grace. So let us take a look at that concept. The first definition I have is: Grace is the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation; and as an individual virtue or excellence of divine origin. The second is: Grace, in Christian theology, is the spontaneous, unmerited gift of divine favor in the salvation of sinners, and the divine influence operating in individuals for their regeneration and sanctification. Phew! That is a power-packed concept isn't it? "the unmerited gift of divine favor" In other words we don't do anything and we can't do anything to earn grace or gain grace. It is an unmerited gift. It is a gift of divine favor. So perhaps I could distill all of those thoughts and ideas into this brief definition: Grace is a gift we don't deserve. Now the Britannica dictionary does go on to say this about grace: "Christian orthodoxy has taught that the initiative in the relationship of grace between God and humanity is always on the side of God. Once God has granted this “first grace,” however, an individual does have a response to give and a responsibility for the continuance of the relationship." So, as followers of Christ, who have experienced grace, we have a responsibility, to respond to God out of that grace. We should also respond to others out of that grace. We have a responsibility to continue to live in, or live into, grace. That's what I was speaking about last week when I talked about our motivation or, our reason, for doing and saying the things that we do as Christians. When we understand that we are living in grace - that unmerited grace, grace that we have done nothing to earn, or can do nothing to gain - then we will be motivated to respond out of grace. Perhaps I can illustrate this by sharing a concept that I was reminded of this past week: God loves us so much that he will meet us exactly where we are. He will accept and pour his love into our lives, just as we are when we meet him. BUT, and this is a very important but, he loves us too much to leave us where he finds us. We must remember the second part of the definition of grace: "the divine influence operating in individuals for their regeneration and sanctification." Grace is at work in us. Changing us into the creation that the Lord longs for us to be. This is not just "a societal politeness." We can't create grace by our own power and determination. This is an ongoing interior change and growth. It only happens when we understand the gift we have received and how we have been blessed. Now, this leads us to another theological concept that runs through each of the Scripture readings for this morning: Mercy. Mercy is like the twin or the "opposite side of the coin" to grace. In Scripture, they are often used together to describe our relationship with the Lord. Mercy and Grace. Grace and Mercy. A definition of Mercy is: "compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm." There is an interesting thing about that definition, did you notice it emphasizes the person with the power or authority in the situation. They are the ones who have the opportunity to punish or to show mercy. I believe, most of us hear and see this, as meaning that we are the agent of mercy. We can show mercy to someone else. We might say something like: "I will show mercy, I will allow you to go without me inflicting punishment on you." My question for today is how have you experienced mercy? In particular, how have you experienced the Lord's mercy in your life? Remember, Mercy is not getting the punishment we deserve. In our readings this morning we see some wonderful examples of how the Lord does not exercise his "right or authority." He doesn't exercise his opportunity to punish, he shows mercy. Job gets his audience with God. God speaks to Job "out of a whirlwind." It is a great illustration of the awesomeness of God. We can imagine the noise and the power exhibited in that storm. Living here on the side of Lake Erie we have experienced what it is like when a storm stirs up the wind. Living in the Rectory we have felt our house shake and rattle as the elements pound and batter the front of the house. Job constantly pleads for the opportunity to plead his case before God. He gets that opportunity and God responds, out of the whirlwind, asking a series of questions that show what he could do to Job if he chose to. Instead, he shows mercy to Job. The picture of God's awesome power is continued in the Psalm. I asked Mary to print it in your Bulletin so that you can read it for yourself. Then in the reading from Hebrews, we see mercy in action. Jesus steps in, he takes our place, he allows us to experience God's mercy in the most effective way possible. We do not experience God's power or punishment because Jesus takes our punishment on himself. He becomes the ultimate "High Priest" making the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of his people. Then we get to the Gospel. This time it is James and John who come to Jesus and ask him to favor them over all the other disciples and all the other followers. They want the prime position available. They ask that when Jesus "comes into his glory" that they would be allowed to sit alongside him in the place of power and authority, one on his right and one on his left. They want to be his chief lieutenants. Power brokers in the kingdom. At least in Mark's version of this story, they do it themselves, in other Gospels they have their mother do it for them. Now, before I get into Jesus' merciful response to this request I/we need to recognize that James and John make their request right after Jesus has talked about what is about to happen to him in Jerusalem. It is important to know what Jesus says in Mark 10: 32b-34"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.” He takes the disciples aside and tells them these agonizing details and James and John's response is basically: "hey Jesus can you tell everyone else that we are your favorites." I don't know about you but I would think that Jesus would have been justified in giving each of them a "good clip upside the head." Instead, Jesus, in his mercy, says: "you don't understand what you are asking." They continue to push him and claim they are ready for whatever they have to go through. He again shows mercy by saying: "well that is not mine to give." Then when the other disciples hear what has happened and they get angry, Jesus once again shows mercy and says to them this is not what it is all about. Don't be like everyone else, in power in the world, be different. Follow my example and be willing to be a servant. How have you experienced mercy this past week? How has God's mercy and grace flowed into your life? How have you exercised mercy and grace with others? May we consider the words from Romans 12: 1-2 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. The Gospel: Mark 10:17-31
As Jesus 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.” Prayer: Lord, you have promised that when two or three gather in your name you will be present with them. We depend on that promise today and pray that you will move among us. Lord, we pray that have you inspired Mike's preparation, that you will enliven his presentation and that you will empower our application. Amen The Message: "Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works" The Collect for the 20th Sunday after PentecostI was struck by the words of the Collect and how they remind me of the words of St Patrick's Breastplate. I am going to quote a couple of the stanzas of that poem to begin this morning. "I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension, Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to save me From snares of devils, From temptation of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. I have printed out copies of the complete version of St Patrick's Breastplate and those are available on the table just inside the Sanctuary where you collected your Bulletin this morning. Patrick's Breastplate and The Collect remind us of the relationship which is at the heart of our Christian faith. "Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works." Grace is at the heart of Christian faith and discipleship. So, as we approach our readings this morning we have to ask ourselves the question: "What is our motivation, for the things that we do and say in living a life of faith?" If we are responding to God's grace we will find ourselves activated, we find ourselves desiring to do those things which otherwise would be burdensome. It will no longer be a matter of needing to know what is expected of us, or what we will gain. It will no longer be about what will garner us the best reward, or how we can protect what we have. We will understand that we have received God's grace and we will want to respond out of gratitude and thankfulness. Job and Psalm 90 remind us what life would be like without the opportunity of a relationship with God. Job feels abandoned and he describes his desolation at not being able to plead his case before God. In the Psalm, we hear how we must be prepared to experience all that God has for us, both good and bad, and how that is better than being separated from God. Job is a fascinating character, isn't he? Job is described in Job 1:1 "That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil." Then in Job 1: 8 the Lord actually points out Job to Satan. "The Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.'” I don't know about you but I am quite content with my role and opportunities in life. I will be very happy if God doesn't ever point me out to Satan as he does with Job, thank you very much. Here we see and hear Job lament that he has lost his connection with God. "Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!" Job 23: 2-3 "If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him." Job 23: 8-9 What happens in Job is the stripping away of all that Job has, the laying bare of his heart. The truth of who Job is is revealed in the process of Satan's unrelenting affliction of Job. Then in Psalm 90, which is attributed to Moses, we hear that same cry of isolation and separation from God. "Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry?" And in an interesting response to that desolate feeling, the author cries out to God and pleads that the people would understand that God is the source of all that they have experienced: "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil." We know and experience God's grace when we have truly experienced the depth of the isolation and desolation it is to not have him in our lives. Unfortunately, I believe we can fool ourselves that we can get by without God. We often forget what a blessing it is to have his abiding presence with us. We think that God won't notice or won't think we are significant enough for him to spend any time concerning himself with what we are up to in our lives. We often forget how important we are to the Lord. We need to remind ourselves of what Psalm 8: 3-6 says about how the Lord sees us: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet." The reading from Hebrews, this morning, highlights for us what it is like to be known by God. In an interesting use of imagery, the author of Hebrews uses the words "The word of God." We are challenged to understand and remember that this refers to not only the written word but also the "word made flesh - Jesus." If we are ready, willing, and open then we can experience the discernment of the Lord in our lives. "The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account." Do you hear the echo of the passage from Job in this reading? Then the author of Hebrews reminds us of the grace that we live under when we are in relationship with Jesus. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." That last part of the reading is worth repeating: "so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Grace, grace it is all about grace! So, at last, we come to the Gospel for this morning. I am not going to spend a lot of time here. My hope is that you will take the readings home today and you will apply what I have talked about in Job, Psalm 90, and Hebrews to the three passages from Mark. What do we learn about the "rich young ruler" when we look at this passage through the lens of what we have learned from Job, Psalm 90, and Hebrews this morning? What does the rich young ruler understand about himself after his encounter with the "living word of God in Jesus?" When we consider Jesus' words in the second passage from Mark's Gospel this morning what do we learn when we apply what we have heard from the readings from Job, Psalm 90, and Hebrews? And finally, when we look at the third passage from Mark's Gospel what can we learn about where our hearts are in our relationship and service of Christ? We are back to the question of motivation, for the things that we do and say in living a life of faith?" Are we responding to God's grace? Do we find ourselves activated, do we find ourselves desiring to do those things which otherwise would be burdensome? Is it no longer a matter of needing to know what is expected of us, or what we will gain? Is it no longer about what will garner us the best reward, or how we can protect what we have? |
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