Mark 6:14-29
Proper 10 (15)- Year B
Meanwhile, back at the ranch... while the rejoicing is going on in the two-by-two's of the 12 for all the healing that is going on, John the baptizer has been put into "protective custody" by Tetrarch Herod. Of course the one who thus protects has always the power to stop protecting, for whatever reason.
And so Herod, who was protecting himself by taking John off the streets, eventually finds it more important to protect his power than to protect John. Say goodbye, John.
Are you being protected? by whom? against what? with what result?
Is your government being protected? by whom? against what? with what result?
Protection rackets have a long and ignoble tradition. This is true whether done legally or illegally. Protection leads to trade offs - it is better for this one to die than a Tetrarch be embarrassed, or a nation be destroyed, or the gene pool be diluted, or there be unrest, or ....
Better to continue taking risks as though you weren't safe at all. Preach it, John, preach it, on the street or in prison. May you follow suit with the 12 and with John. Go ahead. Heal and preach whether the response is rejoicing with you or having the dust knocked off you until only nothing is left.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/july2003.html
When Matthew and Luke tell this story it does not come as an interruption in the midst of another event, but follows either Jesus' rejection at Nazareth or the disciples field work and, in both cases, comes before the feeding of 5,000. Even here in Mark, the next thing after the interruption of the disciples practice Christ-ing is the feeding.
We could contrast the difference in meals of power where one is entertained at $3,000 a plate meals with a floor show and demonstration of dispensing power to those who please and the meals of Jesus where the hungry are fed and a word of hope is given those in need.
Do you remember meals where Jesus is attended by tears and hair drying or anointing, to the displeasure of the powerful? Do you remember other meals where Jesus is a model of service and a catalyst to a repentant tax collector?
Which type meal (Herod's or Jesus') appeals to you and which kind of meal do you put on?
- - -
Irene (Reader)
Dear Wes,
I just discovered this website and "Thank you God!"
I have been a certified lay speaker for 2 yrs, and a Kairos/Spong person. This Sun. I'm preaching in place of our new Pastor of one month, who is a proud member of the Confessing Movement.So I'm preaching about the picnic for everyone. This is Christ work. Thank you Wes for being here.
- - -
Cindy (Reader)
Irene, our DS has a marvelous reflection on going to the church picnic, and even though you just brought a balogna sandwich on stale bread, everyone shares their fried chicken and chocolate cake, even with you who just brought a balogna sandwich on stale bread...and everyone feasts. I don't have a copy of it anymore, and my description does not do it justice, but I'll bet if you emailed her she would share it with you. It sounds like you will bring a word of Grace that allows room for a great diversity of experiences of God...even the ones that don't allow room for you.
I am looking for a variety of ways that we worry that resources are scarce, so we jealously hoard. With the recent Supreme Court decisions on college admission policies and diversity, I see a parallel to our fear that my kid, my kind won't get a fair chance.
Although I don't discount the possibility that God could make an abundance out of thin air, and Jesus reflects that ability, I personally see more of a miracle, if the story is about Jesus inspiring a confidence to share that overcomes self-protective fear...suddenly we all "remember" that we do have a little something in our pack.
I am also playing with Marcus Borg's theory that Jesus repeated the same parables and sayings many times and we can't treat the one (or two or even three) versions we find in the Gospels as rigid fossils. Likewise, I suspect that Jesus multiplied the resources frequently, in a variety of settings, beginning with various offerings, from brave souls of different ages, sizes, life experiences...and God still can and does.
Enough rambling. I am excited for the people of _____ this Sunday.
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Wesley (Author)
Sound like a picnic is in order for those who can get together yet this summer. We could use "progressive" as a theme and meet in LaFollette Park in West Allis, WI on Saturday, August 23, 2003 for a noon picnic and conversation.
If you're game, drop a note to me at wwhite@wisconsinumc.org. This may save me from showing up with my stale balogna sandwich and having to subsist on it alone.
We might as well have some body and food fun as well as thoughtful fun.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/july2003.html
Dancing David
Stumblebum Uzzah
Beheaded John
Face-saving Herod
Plumbline holding Amos
Fearful Amaziah
Destined Christ
Promised Holy Spirit
The earth (see above for its variety) is G*D's and all that is in it (even the female not mentioned above).
Lift up your heads, O David, John, Amos, Christ, Holy Spirit! and be lifted up.
Lift up your head (__your name here__)! and be lifted up.
Imagine even Uzzah, Amaziah and Herod able to lift their heads, for all are chosen in Christ. Imagine the hardest person you have to deal with. Their head, too, will be lifted. There is no stopping the results of steadfast love and faithfulness, righteousness and peace. They will not stop at such nothings as political promises and betrayal, falseness and war.
Lift up your heads, O Uzzah, Amaziah, Herod! and be lifted up.
- - -
nothing tries so hard
to be something
when all that is needful
is nothing
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
Living a “temporary life in a temporary world”, we might learn two lessons from this passage:
Telling the truth is to be avoided.
No second thoughts allowed.
See where the truth got John — headless. See where it got Jesus — rejected at home and hung.
These lessons jump out at our “fear response” (wherever it may be located). We look at this passage and see truth being spun by folks trying to define Jesus. It is difficult to tell the truth in a confused setting. Sometimes there is only a Jimmy Stewart/Jesus story/parable to be drawled out for those who might later remember it and think again.
When we read about John we see again that power has its perogative to avoid self-reflection. If those in power don’t get us through ignoring, marginalizing, discriminating — there is always “stop, question, frisk” as well as arrest, prison, execution.
Herod learned the first lessons wells — get born to power and use its trappings to stay there. These first decisions mean that there can be no second thought given for it is a sign of weakness and you will soon be powerless. There is no Prince and Pauper story here to learn from. When it comes to someone else taking the brunt of our self- and societal-imposed model of power — that’s simply necessary, no matter how much private grieving might go on.
We seldom wait for over-active speculating to clear — it’s John, it’s Elijah, it’s a prophet-of-old — so we can see what is in front of us. A second thought would be helpful.
Speed of thought becomes a manipulative tool and leads us to being in charge — missing important questions or thoughtful responses — that might add value to a quick insight. Looking for more partners would be helpful.
Blessings to you as you do what you can to honor a good deed simply because it is good, no matter from whom it comes, and the humility to see if there is a another and better way forward. May you live in this temporary world as though it had some persistence.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/07/mark-614-29.html