Sunday 6th October: 19th Sunday after Trinity: Mark 10 v 2-16
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.
There were two schools of thought in the Jewish world at that time: one leading rabbi taught that divorce was only permissible in the case of infidelity, another allowed just about any reason for divorce, ..’ quote from Rev Rick Thompson. Jewish religious law allowed only a man to divorce his wife. A woman did not have any rights. Indeed women were treated like belongings and could be discarded. Whilst there was a difference in the legal interpretation of this law, amongst the Pharisees, they had ulterior motives for challenging Jesus in order to catch him out. The Pharisees wanted to focus on the the legal and acceptable aspects of divorce, whilst Jesus’ focus was upon the attitude and intention between the partners and the sanctity of marriage. In other words, in any relationship, specifically in the marriage of two people, God ought to be at the centre of that relationship. If ‘God is love’ and there is no love in that relationship then God is shut out and one’s relationship with God is broken. It’s unfaithfulness that makes it so difficult to develop long lasting relationships. To quote one writer, ‘… it is sin that damages and breaks relationships. It is sin that robs life and love of its beauty and joy.’
The challenge for us all, is to invite God into the heart of all our relationships.
Sunday 13th October: 20th Sunday after Trinity: Mark 10 v 17-27
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; Honour 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[c] 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[d] 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,[e] ‘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.’
After his encounter with Jesus the young man came away, forlorn, not a happy person. He was shocked and disillusioned with Jesus’ response to his question about his desire to inherit eternal life. Here he was a wealthy and upright person of some standing within his community, yet acknowledging and recognising Jesus as a good and holy man. When challenged by Jesus about his commitment to the commandments he assured Jesus that he had upheld them faithfully. Where is my reward? This left the open question of what more could he do. Jesus’ reply was to say, Go sell all that you possess and give to those who have little or nothing. Jesus’ disciples heard this conversation as well, and were equally confused and taken aback at Jesus’ response. Was Jesus’ answer aimed at them too? They weren’t wealthy, unlike this young man who was able to identify himself by his wealth.
This is an incredibly challenging teaching of Jesus. As far as Jesus is concerned the only way to inherit eternal life is by following him, which means putting God at the centre of our lives in all that we do and say.. Unashamedly Living out our faith in our daily lifel Money, wealth and friendship in themselves cannot buy happiness, nor can love be bought, as the Beatles once sang, ‘Money can’t buy me lo
Sunday 20th October: 21st Sunday after Trinity: Mark 10 v 35-45
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.’
Amongst the twelve disciples were two brothers James and John, nicked-named ‘Boanerges’, meaning ‘sons of thunder’. They virtually demanded of Jesus that he give them preferential roles within this newly formed discipleship. Such aspirations, or demands are as old as the hills. It happens in institutions of all kinds, in politics, in industry, including within the church. Often the motivation and ambition of those seeking preferment is a striving for power, influence and status. If you read St. Matthews version ( C20 v 20-23) of this event, it doesn’t appear to be the brothers who seek this privilege, but their mother Salome. Whether it is Salome’s ambition for her sons or the brothers persuading their mother to fight their corner, we will never know. Whoever it was, such demands are absolutely contrary to Jesus’ teachings. The other disciples are naturally upset and hurt by this one-upmanship. Jesus says that he is in no position to fulfil their wishes, because such matters rest with God. The role of disciples is to serve, not to Lord it over others. Jesus says, " …. the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Have you ever curried favour or sought privileges for yourself? What have you felt when others you know have pushed themselves forward? What are your motives and reactions for responding the way you do?
Sunday 27th October: 22nd Last Sunday after Trinity: Bible Sunday: Mark 10 v 46-end
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.
Jesus and his disciples, along with many other people, were passing through Jericho on their way to the Passover festival in Jerusalem some 15 miles away. It was expected that boys and young men over twelve years of age to make that pilgrimage for the Passover. As these pilgrims passed through, there would have been many folk at the roadside watching the pilgrims passing by. Among the onlookers was one Bartimaeus, a beggar, who we are told was blind and was desperate to be healed of his disability. Bartimaeus heard about Jesus’ reputation and that he was somewhere amongst the pilgrims. Whilst Jesus would have been aware of Bartimaeus’ physical blindness he would also have been aware of Bartimaeus’ emotional and spiritual need for healing. Jesus was not going to put words in Bartimaeus’ mouth though, because he wanted to hear directly from him what, he Jesus, could do for him. Immediately Bartimaeus was healed in body mind and spirit. It was by his insistence and placing his absolute trust and faith in Jesus that Bartimaeus was healed which spurred him on to join the other pilgrims going to the Passover.
Bartimaeus had determination and courage to follow in the steps of Jesus. Do you have that sort of determination and courage of your convictions in your faith, even when the going gets tough?